I sold him part of the bonds with the option to take the remainder; but when his lawyers were called in for advice a score of changes were required in the wording of the bonds.

Mr.Morgan said to me that as I was going to Scotland I had better go now; I could write the parties in St.Louis and ascertain whether they would agree to the changes proposed.

It would be time enough, he said, to close the matter upon my return three weeks hence.
But I had no idea of allowing the fish to play so long, and informed him that I would have a telegram in the morning agreeing to all the changes.

The Atlantic cable had been open for some time, but it is doubtful if it had yet carried so long a private cable as I sent that day.

It was an easy matter to number the lines of the bond and then going carefully over them to state what changes, omissions, or additions were required in each line.