That is my point. We have not enough information.’

That ‘plausible chap’ was speaking again:

‘Mr Forsyte seems to be indicating a lack of confidence in the management.’ Taking the bull by the horns – was he?

‘Am I to have that information?’

The voice of old Mothergill rose cosy in the silence.

‘The Board could be adjourned, perhaps, Mr Chairman; I could come up myself at a pinch. Possibly we could all attend. The times are very peculiar – we mustn’t take any unnecessary risks. The policy of foreign contracts is undoubtedly somewhat new to us. We have no reason so far to complain of the results. And I am sure we have the utmost confidence in the judgement of our managing director. Still, as Mr Forsyte has asked for this information, I think perhaps we ought to have it. What do you say, my lord?’

‘I can’t come up next week. I agree with the chairman that on these accounts we couldn’t burke this year’s dividend. No good getting the wind up before we must. When do the accounts go out, Elderson?’

‘Normally at the end of this week.’

‘These are not normal times,’ said Soames. ‘To be quite plain, unless I have that information I must tender my resignation.’ He saw very well what was passing in their minds. A newcomer making himself a nuisance – they would take his resignation readily – only it would look awkward just before a general meeting unless they could announce ‘wife’s ill-health’ or something satisfactory, which he would take very good care they didn’t.

The chairman said coldly:

‘Well, we will adjourn the Board to this day week; you will be able to get us those figures, Elderson?’

‘Certainly.’

Into Soames’s mind flashed the thought: ‘Ought to ask for an independent scrutiny.’ But he looked round. Going too far – perhaps – if he intended to remain on the Board – and he had no wish to resign – after all, it was a big thing, and a thousand a year! No! Mustn’t overdo it!

Walking away, he savoured his triumph doubtfully, by no means sure that he had done any good. His attitude had only closed the ‘all together’ attitude round Elderson. The weakness of his position was that he had nothing to go on, save an uneasiness, which when examined was found to be simply a feeling that he hadn’t enough control himself. And yet, there couldn’t be two managers – you must trust your manager!

A voice behind him tittupped: ‘Well, Forsyte, you gave us quite a shock with your alternative. First time I remember anything of the sort on that Board.’

‘Sleepy hollow,’ said Soames.

‘Yes, I generally have a nap. It gets very hot in there. Wish I’d stuck to my spinneys. They come high, even as early as this.’

Incurably frivolous, this tittupping baronet!

‘By the way, Forsyte, I wanted to say: With all this modern birth control and the rest of it, one gets uneasy. We’re not the royal family; but don’t you feel with me it’s time there was a movement in heirs?’

Soames did, but he was not going to confess to anything so indelicate about his own daughter.

‘Plenty of time,’ he muttered.

‘I don’t like that dog, Forsyte.’

Soames stared.

‘Dog!’ he said. ‘What’s that to do with it?’

‘I like a baby to come before a dog. Dogs and poets distract young women. My grandmother had five babies before she was twenty-seven. She was a Montjoy; wonderful breeders, you remember them – the seven Montjoy sisters – all pretty. Old Montjoy had forty-seven grandchildren. You don’t get it nowadays, Forsyte.’

‘Country’s over-populated,’ said Soames grimly.

‘By the wrong sort – less of them, more of ourselves. It’s almost a matter for legislation.’

‘Talk to your son,’ said Soames.

‘Ah! but they think us fogeys, you know.