“Good morning, Mr. Schwartzbrod. There are several little business matters which I wish to discuss with you and, as I expect to leave London shortly, I thought we might as well get it over.” Stranleigh sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the table from the keen-eyed city man, who watched him with furtive sharpness.
“As I was telling you, my lord, there is nothing in the papers you signed saying that any payment was to be made in advance on account of the Rajah.”
“You object, then, to paying in advance?”
“I don’t object, my lord, if it’s any accommodation to you. The first payment, you see, was made to Messrs. Sparling & Bilge.”
“Of course, I’ve nothing to do with that.”
“Well, the second amount I did not expect to be called on to pay until the steamer had earned some money.”
“Ah, yes, I see. That seems quite just. The steamer, then, hasn’t been earning money, I take it.”
“It is too soon yet to say, my lord, whether she is earning money or not.”
“Is she still at South America?”
“Yes, my lord.”