“That’s wonderful news, Marshall.”

“Tell me, who is Herbert Fisher?”

“He’s a lawyer at Woodman and Weld and the young man who made all this happen.”

“You mean you weren’t responsible?”

“Only indirectly. I judged that Herb was the best man for the job, so I brought him in.”

“And he’s at Woodman and Weld?”

“Yes, a senior associate.”

“What does ‘senior associate’ mean?”

“It’s the level at the firm from which partners are selected, and Herb got that promotion faster than any other associate ever has. I’m sure he’d appreciate a call from you, and he’d certainly appreciate any other work you might be able to send his way.”

“Why don’t you bring him to lunch today? I’d like to meet him.”

“We’d both enjoy that, Marshall.”

“P.J. Clarke’s at one? I’ll book.”

“See you there, Marshall.” Stone hung up and called Herbie. “You and I are having lunch with Marshall Brennan today.”

“You’re kidding me!”

“Nope. He wants to express his gratitude for your work, and he might even be more appreciative than that. P.J. Clarke’s, at one.”

“Not the Four Seasons?”

“Marshall’s a pretty down-to-earth guy. I think he was uncomfortable at the Four Seasons last time we met.”

“I’ll be there.”

STONE AND HERBIE arrived at the restaurant simultaneously and found Marshall Brennan already seated. “You’re not Herbie anymore, you’re Herb,” Stone whispered. He made the introduction, Marshall thanked Herbie, and they ordered. Marshall had the bacon cheeseburger.

“Herb,” Marshall said, “can you ride a horse?”

“Yes,” Herbie replied, with a straight face.

“Can you take a couple of weeks off this summer?”

“I have some vacation time coming,” Herbie said, looking askance at Stone, who shrugged almost imperceptibly.

“Dink’s going to get out of Winwood Farm sometime this summer, and I’m sending him out to my ranch in Montana for a few weeks, before he starts at Yale again this fall. How’d you like to go with him?”

“Mr. Brennan, I’m a reasonably priced lawyer, but an expensive babysitter.”

Brennan laughed. “Dink doesn’t need a babysitter, he needs a friend. He spoke well of you when we talked this morning, said he’d like to get to know you better.”

“In that case I’d be delighted to visit Montana.”

“Good. I’ll let you know the dates later. Now, Herb, I understand you’re a senior associate and looking for some business of your own.”

“Both of those things are true,” Herbie said.

“I have a substantial investment in a start-up software company that I have high hopes for. They’re smart kids, but they need some adult supervision with legal matters, especially intellectual property. You know anything about that?”

“I do, sir, and by tomorrow morning I’ll know a lot more,” Herbie said.

Brennan handed Herbie a card. “This is the CEO. They’re housed in an old industrial building in SoHo. Drop in and see them, will you?”

Herbie looked at the card. “High Cotton Ideas,” he read. “I like the sound of that. Now, Mr. Brennan …”