"Then how soon can you arrange for me to meet him?"
"Well-I have been thinking about it, and I don't think, you know, that it should be arranged at all."
"What?"
"What I should like to do-with your permission and co-operation-would be to, as it were, walk in on him. Go and see him unannounced. So that you would see him as he is and not as he wants you to see him. If we made an appointment here at the office, he would — "
"Yes, I see. I understand. I agree to that. Can we go now?"
"I don't see why not. I really don't see why not," Mr. Sandal said in that regretful tone that lawyers use when they cannot see any reason why not. "There is, of course, the chance that he may be out. But we can at least go and see. Ah, here is your tea! Will you drink it while Mercer asks Simspon to ask Willett to get us a taxi?"
"You haven't got anything stronger, have you?" Bee asked.
"I'm afraid not; I'm afraid not. I have never succumbed to the transatlantic custom of the bottle in the office. But Willett will get you anything you may — "
"Oh, no, thank you; it's all right. I'll drink the tea. They say the effects are much more lasting, anyway."
Mr. Sandal looked as though he would like to pat her encouragingly on the shoulder, but could not make up his mind to it. He was really a very kind little man, she thought, but just-just not much of a prop.