What's that--letters ?" "There's all these letters to sign, Mr.Cotherstone, and these three contracts to go through," answered the clerk.

"And there are those specifications to examine, as well." "Mr.Mallalieu'll have to see those," said Cotherstone.

He lighted the gas above his desk, put the decanter and the glasses aside, and took the letters.

"I'll sign these, anyhow," he said, "and then you can post 'em as you go home.

The other papers'll do tomorrow morning." The clerk stood slightly behind his master as Cotherstone signed one letter after the other, glancing quickly through each.