I suppose
you agree with us--that it would be better to put it off.
There's really nothing to report. Of course, you know
more about the situation than he does--between ourselves.
The shareholders don't want a meeting; it's enough for them
that their shares are worth fifteen or twenty times what they
paid for them. And certainly WE don't need a meeting,
as things stand now."
"Ah yes--how do things stand now?" asked Lord Plowden, briskly.
"Well,"--Thorpe eyed his visitor with a moody blankness
of gaze, his chin once more buried in his collar--"well,
everything is going all right, as far as I can see.
But, of course, these dealings in our shares in the City
have taken up all my time--so that I haven't been able
to give any attention to starting up work in Mexico.
That being the case, I shall arrange to foot all the
bills for this year's expenses--the rent, the Directors'
fees and clerk-hire and so on--out of my own pocket.
It comes, all told, to about 2,700 pounds--without
counting my extra 1,000 pounds as Managing Director.
I don't propose to ask for a penny of that, under the
circumstances--and I'll even pay the other expenses.
So that the Company isn't losing a penny by our not
getting to work at the development of the property.
No one could ask anything fairer than that.--And are your
mother and sister quite well?"
"Oh, very well indeed, thanks," replied the other.
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