"Hundreds?"
"No."
"Five thousand!" Thorne whistled. "Coming it just a bit strong, Broderick."
Broderick vigorously shook his head.
"Now, look here, Thorne, I've got no complaint to make of you, and you've got no complaint to make of me. You've paid me well, but you've had blamed good returns for it, haven't you? Come now!"
"Yes," admitted Thorne. "But——"
"No buts," interrupted Broderick. "This is a crisis."
Thorne drew down the corners of his mouth.
"Do you think that I don't know it's a crisis?" He went back to his desk, drew forth a cheque-book and wrote a cheque. Before passing it over to Broderick, he looked him squarely in the eye, and added:—
"Peter, I've always paid you by cheque and taken your receipt."