His head-clerk, almost as exhausted, followed him into his room.
"I forgot to tell you, sir," he announced, "that there s a man outside--Mr.Shepherd was his name, I believe--said he had a small investment to make which you promised to look after personally.

He would insist on seeing you--said he was a waiter at a restaurant which you visited sometimes." "That's all right," Laverick declared.

"You can show him in.

We'll probably give him American rails." "Can't we attend to it in the office for you, sir ?" the clerk asked.
"I suppose it's only a matter of a few hundreds." "Less than that, probably, but I promised the fellow I'd look after it myself.

Send him in, Scropes." There was a brief delay and then Mr.Shepherd was announced.
Laverick, who was sitting with his coat off, smoking a well-earned cigarette, looked up and nodded to his visitor as the door was closed.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he remarked.