“I wish to give you some instructions about these letters. I have arranged them in order. You will please write what I say, and I will sign in time for the post to-night. First of all there is the contract. You had better take the necessary action and ask the Staffordshire people what advance they want.”
“Yes, sir, but”—deferentially—“the Staffordshire people cannot claim an advance if you accept at once: you remember the condition?”
“Certainly; what I mean is that you can accept their tender. Then there is the meeting of creditors.”
“I suppose you wish Mr. Eaton’s acceptance acknowledged and the sub-contractors at once informed?”
“Of course, of course; I said necessary action—that covers everything. With regard to the creditors’ meeting, my proposal is—”
A pause.
“Perhaps it will be as well, sir, if you merely say you will attend.”
“I thought you would take that for granted. I was considering what proposal I should make when we meet.”
“Probably, sir, you can make it better after you hear his statement.”
“Well, possibly it may be so; but I am always in favour of being prepared. However, we will postpone that for the present. Then there is the trustee business. That is a private matter of my own, which you will not understand. I will give you the papers, however, and you can make an abstract of them. I cannot carry every point in my head. If you are in any doubt come to me.”