But for the moment I have a much greater business on hand, and you will oblige me if you forget all the things I have said about Milburgh.

I will ring for him now." He walked to a long table which ran half the length of the room, took up a telephone which stood at one end, and spoke to the operator.
"Tell Mr.Milburgh to come to me in the board-room, please," he said.
Then he went back to his visitor.
"That matter of Milburgh can wait," he said.

"I'm not so sure that I shall proceed any farther with it.

Did you make inquiries at all?
If so, you had better tell me the gist of them before Milburgh comes." Tarling took a small white card from his pocket and glanced at it.
"What salary are you paying Milburgh ?" "Nine hundred a year," replied Lyne.
"He is living at the rate of five thousand," said Tarling.

"I may even discover that he's living at a much larger rate.