The young man nodded.
"First," said the Mercurian, opening the satchel, "here are your papers." He handed him a yellow envelope which contained a book similar to the one the T.I.S. had issued when he left Earth.
"The individual shares from the Jupiter's cargo," the Mercurian droned on, "plus the Terrestial warship amount to twenty thousand notes." He handed Norman a sheaf of yellow bills.
"Roughly," Koal interposed, "that is equal in value to twenty-five thousand Earth notes."
"Twenty-five thousand Earth notes!" gasped Norman. "It's a fortune."
"Sign here, please," said the Mercurian, handing him a ledger.
Norman affixed his name in a daze.
"That doesn't, of course," added the Mercurian, "include your share from the sale of the slaves. They are to be auctioned off at fourteen hundred." He snapped shut his satchel, bowed himself out.
"What time is it now?" asked Norman.
"We've time for something to eat before going twelve-hundred."