Chapter 5: Eight Days

Alexander took the folder out of the lawyer's hand and read the first page standing up.

Then he turned to the second page and read that.

The lawyer waited, and the longer Alexander read, the less pleasant his face became.

"Loomis Shipping offers to forgive Mr. Althaus's personal loans," Alexander said at last. "Which bank holds them?"

"They're, ah, in the process of being transferred."

"They were transferred to me eight days before the dinner."

The lawyer's mouth opened, and nothing came out.

"You can't forgive a debt you don't hold," Alexander said. "So there is nothing to trade for the yard, and this paper does nothing at all."

He tore it in half, once, down the middle, and handed both halves back.

"Tell Mr. Loomis I said good morning. Tell him the first of the month is still the first of the month."

The lawyer took the pieces and left so fast that he forgot his leather folder.

Clara stood in the hall with the toast crumbs on her robe.

She was grateful, and she was not.

Both feelings were so strong that she could not tell which one would win.

"Study," she said. "Now."

Alexander followed her in without a word, and she shut the door behind him.

"Eight days," she said. "You bought my father's debt eight days before the dinner."

"Yes."

"So when I walked up to your table, you already owned the paper."

"Yes."

She had expected him to explain, or to lie.

He stood there with both hands on his cane, and he waited for her to finish.

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