The counting-house clerk put a mat on his desk before allowing Barnaby to land.
“No scratching the wood.”
Barnaby inspected the mat. It had been cut from an old flour sack.
“I shall endeavor to deserve this welcome.”
The clerk, who introduced himself as Odo Marr, drew the inspection request closer. Rain ticked against the windows behind him. A bucket beside the lower shelves answered at irregular intervals.
“The summary is prepared. You may examine it here.”
“The request names the source sheets.”
“The summary contains their figures.”
