‘MR PRENDERGAST has telephoned several times this morning, chairman,’ said Miss Potts as she followed Sir Hugo into his office, ‘and on the last occasion he emphasized that it was urgent.’ If she was surprised to see the chairman unshaven and wearing a tweed suit that looked as if he’d slept in it, she said nothing.
Hugo’s first thought on hearing that Prendergast wanted to speak to him urgently was that the Broad Street deal must have fallen through and the bank would expect him to return its ￡800 forthwith. Prendergast could think again.
‘And Tancock,’ said Miss Potts, checking her notepad, ‘says he has some news that you’ll want to hear.’ The chairman didn’t comment. ‘But the most important thing,’ she continued, ‘is the letter I’ve left on your desk. I have a feeling you’ll want to read it immediately.’
Hugo began reading the letter even before he’d sat down. He then read it a second time, but still couldn’t believe it. He looked up at his secretary.
‘Many congratulations, sir.’
‘Get Prendergast on the phone,’ barked Hugo, ‘and then I want to see the managing director, followed by Tancock, in that order.’
‘Yes, chairman,’ said Miss Potts, and hurried out of the room.
While Hugo waited for Prendergast to come on the line, he read the Minister of Shipping’s letter a third time.
Dear Sir Hugo,
I am delighted to inform you that Barrington Shipping has been awarded the contract for . . .
The phone on Hugo’s desk rang. ‘Mr Prendergast on the line,’ announced Miss Potts.
‘Good morning, Sir Hugo.’ The deference was back in the voice. ‘I thought you’d want to know that Mrs Clifton has finally agreed to sell her site on Broad Street, for a thousand pounds.’
‘But I’ve already signed a contract to sell the rest of my property in the street to United Dominion for four thousand.’
‘And that contract is still on my desk,’ said Prendergast. ‘Unfortunately for them, and more fortunately for you, the earliest time they could make an appointment to see me was at ten o’clock this morning.’
‘Did you exchange contracts?’
‘Yes, Sir Hugo, I most certainly did.’
Hugo’s heart sank.
‘For forty thousand pounds.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Once I was able to assure United Dominion that you were in possession of Mrs Clifton’s plot, as well as the deeds for every other freehold in the street, they wrote out a cheque for the full amount.’
‘Well done, Prendergast. I knew I could rely on you.’
‘Thank you, sir. All you need to do now is countersign Mrs Clifton’s agreement, and then I can bank United Dominion’s cheque.’
Hugo glanced at his watch. ‘As it’s already gone four, I’ll drop in to the bank first thing tomorrow morning.’
The Prendergast cough. ‘First thing, Sir Hugo, is nine o’clock. And may I ask if you still have the eight hundred pounds I advanced to you in cash yesterday?’
‘Yes I do. But how can that still be of any significance?’
‘I do consider it would be prudent, Sir Hugo, to pay Mrs Clifton her thousand pounds before we bank United Dominion’s cheque for forty thousand. We wouldn’t want any embarrassing questions from head office at a later date.’
‘Quite so,’ said Hugo as he looked at his suitcase, relieved that he hadn’t spent one penny of the ￡800.
‘There’s nothing more for me to say,’ said Prendergast, ‘other than to congratulate you on closing a most successful contract.’
‘How do you know about the contract?’
‘I beg your pardon, Sir Hugo?’ said Prendergast sounding a little puzzled.
‘Oh, I thought you were referring to something else,’ said Hugo. ‘It’s of no importance, Prendergast. Forget I mentioned it,’ he added as he put the phone down.
Miss Potts came back into the room. ‘The managing director is waiting to see you, chairman.’
‘Send him straight in.’
‘You’ve heard the good news, Ray?’ said Hugo as Compton entered the room.
‘I have indeed, chairman, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.’
‘I’m not sure I understand,’ said Hugo.
‘You’re due to present the company’s annual results at next month’s board meeting, and although we’ll still have to declare a heavy loss this year, the new contract will guarantee that we go into profit next year.’
‘And for five years after that,’ Hugo reminded him, waving the minister’s letter triumphantly. ‘Why don’t you prepare the agenda for the board meeting, but don’t include the news about the government contract. I’d rather like to make that announcement myself.’
‘As you wish, chairman. I’ll see that all the relevant papers are on your desk by noon tomorrow,’ Compton added before leaving the room.
Hugo read the minister’s letter a fourth time. ‘Thirty thousand a year,’ he said out loud, just as the phone on his desk rang again.
‘A Mr Foster from Savills, the estate agency, is on the line,’ said Miss Potts.
‘Put him through.’