"That was your mother, Marty. What about that hunch you had last year, the one that cost you a couple of hundred thou—"
"That was last year!"
"So, what's changed?" asked Wythe.
"Maybe I've changed, Charlie. Do it; that's all I ask."
"Okay, Marty. But I think you're out of your mind, especially with what was on the morning news."
"And what was that?"
"Lawrence is in bad shape. He's not likely to pull through. They operated last night, in case you didn't know."
"But that should drive the stock down!"
"Why? It won't affect the profits from the corporation's piles."
"No. I agree. But that's not the only thing that keeps the price up. What about Lawrence's reputation?"