478 ANGEL PAVEMENT

on the other side all right, as you know; and your people
are here all right; so I want my cut now. I'm not as good
as you at figures, but that's what I make it, right up to
date." He handed over a slip of paper. 'That's a rough
total, of course."

It may have been a rough total, but what leaped to
Mr. Smeeth's eyes was the fact that it was a surprisingly
large total.

"Pretty big, eh? Bigger than you thought, eh? That
shows you the business that's come into this office just
lately."

"It does, Mr. Golspie,"' said Smeeth, glancing down
at the figure again.

"Yes, that's true." Mr. Dersingham's face cleared at
the thought. "Jolly good. Of course, it's—what-is-it?
—phenomenal—a sudden rush, y'know, because they've
been booking this stuff of yours ahead as fast as they
can."

"Don't blame 'em," said Mr. Golspie, looking at his

cigar.

"You want me to check this, I suppose?" said Mr.
Smeeth, glancing from one to the other.

Mr. Golspie yawned. 'That's it. When can you have
it done, with the figures right bang up to date, Smeeth?
BT to-morrow morning, eh? All right. And you'll see
how you can arrange the payment, Dersingham, eh?
Yes yes, I know how it is—you told me—but if you can
split it into three, say, and let me have the first cheque
this week and the other two as soon as you can, that'll
do me. I'll leave you to work it out. I'll be looking in
this afternoon.*'

They said nothing until they heard the out^r door
close behind him and his footsteps die away on the land-