Chapter 5The week started like any other, with Adam arriving at nine sharp to fulfil another tedious day. Just after lunch, a rather flurried Mr. Briggs was called suddenly into his father’s office, leaving a sheaf of papers on Adam’s desk momentarily.
Adam glanced over what seemed to be a list of calculations, more to relieve his boredom rather than anything else. However, his eye caught on a mistake early on in the column, which he could see unravelled the whole page of sums.
Mr Briggs came back through and picked up the sheaf of papers to return them to his own desk. Adam cleared his throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Briggs,” he said diffidently.
“Yes, Mr. Adam,” the elderly clerk paused briefly, purely out of courtesy. Adam could see his eyes darting to the door of his own office and an exten
