"You've been a long time in returning, Charlie. I've waited here almost an hour. The gentlemen outside are growing impatient."
Charlie was confused. "They know you're here?"
"How do you think I got in? Through the window?"
"But I thought you were in serious trouble. Beach called and said—"
"I know all about that. Beach is behind the time, and he's not getting any more of our business, do you understand?" I had been speaking harshly. Now I fell into the familiar friendly vein. "Charlie, this is the situation. I came within an inch of getting my head chopped off. But I spoke to the Central Committeeman, and the matter's being straightened out."
I paced the office casually. "It's costing me money, of course. A cool half-million."
Charlie's eyes grew to the first magnitude. "Canopus! Have you got that much?"
"Not quite. Not in cash, anyway. There are some securities I can't put on the market right now. So I'm a hundred thousand short. Which isn't so much, actually."
I had to make this sound completely nonchalant. "I thought I'd borrow it from the business for thirty days. I assume that's all right with you?"
Spacker is no fool either. He hesitated. "Well sure, Bart, if we have it. But you know, with this Venus crisis we're running pretty close."