Larry found many complaints from tenants; some threatening letters from the Building Department for failure to make ordered alterations to comply with new building laws; and some rather perfunctory letters of advice and recommendation from the agents themselves.
From Miss Sherwood Larry learned that the agents were old men, friends of her father since youth; that they had both made comfortable fortunes which they had no incentive to increase.

Larry judged that there was no dishonesty on the part of the agents, only laxity, and an easy adherence to the methods of their earlier years when there had not been so much competition nor so many building laws.

All the same Larry judged that the real-estate holdings were in a bad way.
Larry liked the days and days of this work, although the farther he went the worse did the tangle seem.

It was the kind of work for which his faculties fitted him, and this was his first chance to use his faculties upon large affairs in an honest way.

Thus far his work was all diagnostic; cure, construction, would not come until later--and perhaps Miss Sherwood would not trust him with such affairs.