You took a business risk." The other man angrily flung the report on the table.
"This has been a blow to me, and I'm far from appreciating the course you've taken.

But what about the older concern?
Though we don't seem to have turned out much rubber yet, I suppose its position is still satisfactory ?" Herbert saw suspicion in the man's face and he rang a bell.
"I think you had better satisfy yourself; I have the necessary particulars here." He indicated some books on a neighboring shelf; and then added, when a clerk appeared: "Will you bring me the extract of our working expenses that I asked you to make out ?" The clerk came back with a sheet of figures, which Herbert handed to his visitor with one of the books, and the man spent some time carefully examining them.
"Everything looks satisfactory; I've no fault to find," he said at length.

"But I feel very sore about your giving up the new undertaking." "It can't be helped," explained Herbert.

"If it's any comfort to you, I dropped as much money over preliminary expenses as you did." After a little further conversation, his visitor left and Herbert resumed his work.

On the whole, the interview had been less embarrassing than he expected, and though it was likely that the rest of his colleagues would call and expostulate, he was ready to meet them.