MR. SMEETH IS WORRIED 477

be like me and like Sraeeth here both together, two in
one. Quite simple/'

Mr. Dersingham nodded vaguely. He was not
interested in this talk and did not like the sound of it,
for Mr. Golspie's voice had dropped into a jeering tone.
He caught Mr. Smeeth's eye, and then began: "Look
here, Smeeth, Mr. Golspie and I have come to a new
arrangement. I'll just explain it—"

"Oh, I'll explain it," Mr. Golspie broke in roughly.
"It's simple enough. Up to now, I've been drawing com-
mission on all this Baltic stuff as soon as it's delivered
to your customers, haven't I? That's right. Well, that's
too slow for me. I don't want to have to wait for my
money like that. Some of these new orders are spread
over months."

"Yes, and don't forget how long well have to wait for
our money, Golspie," said Mr. Dersingham, "or rather,
I'll have to wait for mine/'

"Quite so, sir/' said Mr. Smeeth, who knew how long
it took to get accounts settled better than they did,

"That's up to you/' Mr. Golspie replied, in his hearty
brutal way. "I don't want to point out again that if it
hadn't been for me there'd have been no orders and no
money to come in, whether it comes in this year or
next/'

"Yes, yes, that's all right, Golspie. I agree. You
needn't harp on it, needn't rub it in/'

"Rub it in!" Golspie laughed. "You're talking now
as if you were sore somewhere. There's nothing to rub
in but a lot of good new business. Anyhow, Smeeth,
this is the point. I can't wait now for all this big lot of
orders to be delivered. I want my commission on the
orders as they stand. They've gone through; the stuff's