‘H’m,’ said the managing director. ‘Well, I suppose you have a proposition, Mr Palanguez. Shall we come to it?’
Umberto explained: ‘There are two ways of dealing with such an unfortunate matter. The usual one is to prevent it happening—or at least to delay it until the capital sunk in present equipment has been paid off. That is, of course, the desirable way.’
The managing director nodded. He knew plenty about that.
‘But this time I am so sorry for you, because, you see, it is not possible.’
The managing director had his doubts. His inclination was to say, ‘You’d be surprised,’ but he resisted it, and contented himself with a non-committal: ‘Oh?’
‘The other way,’ suggested Umberto, ‘is to produce the thing yourself before the trouble starts.’
‘Ah!’ said the managing director.
‘I thi
