"I see," he said. "Who is the head of that firm, now?"
"Wallace K. Forbes; I think he's a grandson of old R. H."
The Judge made another note.
"How do they stand? Oddly enough, I have a client interested in their affairs, too."
"The Forbes people? Pretty well. I had to get a report on them last week."
"Have they any heavy loans?"
"Only one that might hurt them: two hundred and fifty thousand dollars at call with the East County National."
The Judge's pencil was still busy.
"I want to be quite clear about this," he said—"quite clear: my client in this Forbes matter is considering an investment. Am I to understand that if the East County National should call this loan, if it could not be renewed elsewhere, the firm would become insolvent?"
"Oh, there's no doubt about that. But then, there's no doubt about its not being called, either. The company's quite sound, Judge."