“That’s not the same thing,” Hilmer sneered.  “That is, it’s only the same in theory.  Practically, an insurance broker couldn’t double cross me if he wanted to...  I wouldn’t put a thief in charge of my cash drawer, but I might make him a night watchman.  He’d know all the tricks of the trade.”

“Including the secret entrances that those on the outside wouldn’t know...  A crook wouldn’t stay all his life on the night-watchman’s job, believe me.”

He noticed that Helen was regarding him keenly and her glance registered indulgent surprise rather than disapproval.  Hilmer, too, had grown a bit more tolerant.  He felt a measure of pride in the realization that he could make his points so calmly and dispassionately, putting this rough-hewn man before him on the defensive.  But Hilmer’s wavering was only momentary; he was not a man to waste time in argument when he discovered that such a weapon was futile.

“Then I understand you don’t want the business?”

“Not on those terms.”

Hilmer shrugged.

Helen leaned forward and put out a hand.  “Let’s see!” she half commanded.

Hilmer gave her the blue print and the package of memoranda.  She began to unfold one of the insurance forms, bending over it curiously.  Fred was puzzled.  He knew that Helen was too unacquainted with insurance matters to have any knowledge of the printed schedule she was studying, yet he had to concede that she was giving a splendid imitation of an experienced hand.  Her acting annoyed him.  He turned toward Hilmer with an indifferent comment on the weather and the talk veered to inconsequential subjects.  Helen continued her scrutiny of the forms.

Finally Hilmer rose to go.  Helen made no move to return the memoranda.  Fred cleared his throat and even coughed significantly, but Helen was oblivious.  Presently Starratt went up to his wife and said, deliberately: 

“Hilmer is going ... you better give him back his papers.”

She turned a glance of startled innocence upon them both.  “Oh!” she exclaimed, petulantly.  “How disappointing...and just as I was becoming interested...  Why don’t you men go have your usual drink?  I’ll be through with them then.”

Hilmer gave a silent assent and Fred followed him.  There didn’t seem to be anything else to do.  On the way out they met Hilmer’s office boy in the corridor.  Hilmer was wanted on a matter of importance at the office.  He waved a brief farewell to Fred and left.

Fred went back to his wife.  She had abandoned the forms and was lolling in her chair, sucking at an orange.

“Hilmer’s been called suddenly to his office on business,” he said, brusquely.  She turned and faced him.  “You’d better put those papers in the safe.  I’ll take them back myself to-morrow.  I can’t see what possessed you to insist on looking them over, anyway.”

She squeezed the orange in her hand.  “Well, when we get ready to handle the business I want to know something about it.”