BOOK ONE: YESTERDAY 21 Eleven twenty-five. He could recite the issue of the Furni- tur« Dealer which lay on the table by heart now. Those people- in the private office were taking a deuce of a lang time over their deliberations. Was that a good sign? There was DO secre- tary here he could send in. It was a damned nuisance, But he would make them pay for this. Eleven twenty-six. He was asked to go in. Martin Oppermann was alone. It suddenIy occurred to Herr Wels thar he would have preferred to deal with five or six, as he had expected. That Martin was the worst of the lot. He was the most difficult one to deal with. Martin Oppermann stood up as Herr Wels entered. "I ask your pardon," he said politely, "for having kept you waiting." He had intended ro be still more polite and explain the reason for his Iate arrival, But Wels's big, harsh face repelled him, as ir always did, and he changed his mind. "Unfortunately," replied Herr Wels in his sulky, rasping voice, "time is the only thing which a business man can af- ford to waste nowadays," With sleepy eyes Martin Oppermann gravely and coolly re- garded the hig man seated facing him, He tried to make his voice sound as agreeable as possible, "I have considered your proposals thoroughly and with the greatest interest, my dear Herr Wels," he said, "Fundamentally we are inclined to go further into rhe matter but we have some misgivings. Our balance sheet is better than yours, Herr Wels," but I will frankly tell you it is not satisfaetory. In fact, it is unsatisfac- rory," He did not look at Herr W els, he glanced up at the portrait of ImmanueI Oppermann and regretted that it was only a copy. His tone was not the right one to adopt with this ernbittered and irritated man. At the moment there was no need to come to terms with Wels. The political situation seemed quier, Probably there would be no such need for months or even years to come, Bur tbere was no guarantee of