"You're a very observant young fellow." He closed the briefcase with a snap. "I trust you'll have a bright future with the CDT."
"Really, Retief," Magnan said reprovingly. "There was no need to trouble Mr. Leatherwell."
Leatherwell directed a sharp look at Retief and a bland one at Magnan. "I trust you'll communicate the proposal to the interested parties. Inasmuch as time is of the essence of the GM position, our offer can only be held open until 0900 Greenwich, tomorrow. I'll call again at that time to finalize matters. I trust there'll be no impediment to a satisfactory settlement at that time. I should dislike to embark on lengthy litigation."
Magnan hurried around his desk to open the door. He turned back to fix Retief with an exasperated frown.
"A crass display of boorishness, Retief," he snapped. "You've embarrassed a most influential member of the business community—and for nothing more than a few miserable forms."
"Those forms represent somebody's stake in what might be a valuable property."
"They're mere paper until they've been processed!"
"Still—"
"My responsibility is to the Public interest—not to a fly-by-night group of prospectors."
"They found it first."