"Confidential! You wouldn't invade a man's privacy on a delicate matter like—"
"Will it be worth five million dollars for you, Noel?"
"Five million—hey, is this a gag?"
"I'm awfully serious," Walton said. "I want you to swing a deal for me, right away. You've heard my price."
Hervey smiled warmly. "Well, start talking, friend. Consider me hired."
A few other matters remained to be tended to hurriedly. Walton spent some moments talking to a communications technician, then sent out an order for three or four technical books—Basic Kaleidowhirl Theory and related works. He sent a note to Lee Percy requesting him to stop by and see him in an hour, and told his annunciator that for no reason whatsoever was he to be disturbed for the next sixty minutes.
The hour passed rapidly; by its end, Walton's head was slightly dizzy from too much skimming, but his mind was thrumming with new possibilities, with communications potentials galore. Talk about reaching people! He had a natural!
He flipped on the annunciator. "Is Mr. Percy here yet?"
"No, sir. Should I send for him?"