“I wish to inquire about one of your apartments.”
“I understood you to say that it was special business with me,” he laughed, and looked keenly at Tavia. “You could have asked any of the clerks about that.”
“I thought that I would have to see you personally, of course.”
“Oh, no, that was not necessary. My clerks are conversant with the renting of all our places.”
Tavia was puzzled. She would not talk to the clerks, she wanted to find out from Mr. Akerson himself. She smiled sweetly.
“I was told,” she said, “that in regard to this particular apartment, the Court Apartments, that I could only rent from you.”
The man glanced up quickly, and closing his eyes shrewdly, asked Tavia, lowering his voice:
“Who sent you to me?”
“A friend of mine lives there and she mentioned your name as being renting agent, and not the company you represent.”
Mr. Akerson sat back, evidently very much relieved. He toyed with a letter opener.