Chapter 54

The face before him was expressionless. Mr Barber’s altered voice went on. ‘That rather irritating humour of yours—I suppose that’s involuntary.’ ‘That’s a remark that might have been better put,’ said the young man. ‘I suppose that it is an asset,’ the other man remarked judicially. ‘But a distressing price to have to pay for business efficiency.’ ‘In replying to yours of the fifth ult,’ said Campion, ‘I take it that you are making me an offer?’ His visitor nodded. ‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘This man Lobbett is making h…