He had already had one or two trying interviews with his business colleagues, and the opinions they had expressed about him still rankled in his mind.

He was not particularly sensitive, but the subject was an unpleasant one.
"Something of the kind," he answered.

"One has to take precautions." Sylvia laughed.
"One could imagine your taking them.

You're not the man to be caught at a disadvantage, are you ?" "Well," he said dryly, "it's a thing I try to avoid." Sylvia sat down, as if she meant to continue the conversation, which was far from what he desired, but he could not be discourteous.
"Had George any shares in your company ?" she asked.
There was no way of avoiding a reply, without arousing her suspicions; Herbert knew that she was keen-witted and persistent.
"Yes," he said, "he had a quantity." "Have those shares been sold ?" This was a more troublesome question, but Herbert was compelled to answer.
"No; not yet.

It's unfortunate that the market broke before I could get rid of them, but it may rally.