Hehalted，withahandheldoutoverherarm，andshepausedaswell，inareluctant，tentativeway。\"Idon\'tunderstandyou，\"sheremarked，blankly。
\"Letmeputitinthisway，\"hebegan，knittinghisbrows，andmarshallingthethoughtsandphraseswithwhichhismindhadbeenbusy。\"Thisisthequestion。
Youweresayingthatyouweren\'taskedtojoinmyBoard。
YouexplainedinthatwayhowIcoulddothingsforPlowden，andcouldn\'tdothemforyou。Oh，Iknowitwasajoke——butithaditsmeaning——atleasttome。NowIwanttoaskyou——ifIdecidetoformanotherCompany，averysmallandparticularCompany——ifIshoulddecidetoformit，Isay——couldIcometoyouandaskyoutojoinTHATBoard？
OfcourseIcouldask——butwhatImeanis——well，IguessyouknowwhatImean。\"