… “If any shareholder has any question to put, I shall be glad to answer it.” A soft thump. Old Jolyon had let the report and accounts fall, and stood twisting his tortoiseshell glasses between thumb and forefinger.

The ghost of a smile appeared on Soames’ face. They had better hurry up with their questions! He well knew his uncle’s method (the ideal one) of at once saying: “I propose, then, that the report and accounts be adopted!” Never let them get their wind⁠—shareholders were notoriously wasteful of time!

A tall, white-bearded man, with a gaunt, dissatisfied face, arose:

“I believe I am in order, Mr. Chairman, in raising a question on this figure of £5,000 in the accounts. ‘To the widow and family’ ” (he looked sourly round), “ ‘of our late superintendent,’ who so⁠—er⁠—ill-advisedly (I say⁠—ill-advisedly) committed suicide, at a time when his services were of the utmost value to this Company. You have stated that the agreement which he has so unfortunately cut short with his own hand was for a period of five years, of which one only had expired⁠—I⁠—”

Old Jolyon made a gesture of impatience.

“I believe I am in order, Mr. Chairman⁠—I ask whether this amount paid, or proposed to be paid, by the Board to the er⁠—deceased⁠—is for services which might have been rendered to the Company⁠—had he not committed suicide?”

“It is in recognition of past services, which we all know⁠—you as well as any of us⁠—to have been of vital value.”