“Thank you,” the chairman said, feeling more at home as he took in the minister’s office; on the ceiling a large propellor-like fan revolved slowly, making little difference to the stuffiness of the room, while hanging on the wall behind the minister was a signed picture of President José López Portillo in full morning dress and below the photo a plaque displaying a coat of arms.
“I see you were educated at Cambridge.”
“That is correct, Sir Hamish, I was up at Corpus Christi College for three years.”
“Then you know my country well, sir.”
“I do have many happy memories of my stays in England, Sir Hamish; in fact, I still visit London as often as my leave allows.”
“You must take a trip to Edinburgh some time.”
“I have already done so, Sir Hamish. I attended the Festival on two occasions and now know why your city is described as the Athens of the North.”
“You are well informed, Minister.”
“Thank you, Sir Hamish. Now I must ask how I can help you. Your assistant’s note was rather vague.”
“First let me say, Minister, that my company is honored to be considered for the city ring road project and I hope that our experience of thirty years in construction, twenty of them in the third world”—he nearly said the undeveloped countries, an expression his project manager had warned him against—“is the reason you, as minister in charge, found us the natural choice for this contract.”
“That, and your reputation for finishing a job on time at the stipulated price,” replied the Secretary of State. “Only twice in your history have you returned to the principal asking for changes in the payment schedule. Once in Uganda when you were held up by Amin’s pathetic demands, and the other project, if I remember rightly, was in Bolivia, an airport, when you were unavoidably delayed for six months because of an earthquake. In both cases, you completed the contract at the new price stipulated and my principal advisers think you must have lost money on both occasions.” The Secretary of State mopped his brow with a silk handkerchief before continuing. “I would not wish you to think my government takes these decisions of selection lightly.”
Sir Hamish was astounded by the Secretary of State’s command of his brief, the more so as no prompting notes lay on the leather-topped desk in front of him. He suddenly felt guilty at the little he knew about the Secretary of State’s background or history.
“Of course not, Minister. I am flattered by your personal concern, which makes me all the more determined to broach an embarrassing subject that has…”
“Before you say anything else, Sir Hamish, may I ask you some questions?”
“Of course, Minister.”
“Do you still find the tender price of $39,121,110 acceptable in all the circumstances?”
“Yes, Minister.”
“That amount still leaves you enough to do a worthwhile job while making a profit for your company?”
“Yes, Minister, but…”
“Excellent, then I think all you have to decide is whether you want to sign the contract by midday today.” The minister emphasized the word “midday” as clearly as he could.
Sir Hamish, who had never understood the expression “a nod is as good as a wink,” charged foolishly on.
“There is, nevertheless, one aspect of the contract I feel that I should discuss with you privately.”
“Are you sure that would be wise, Sir Hamish?”
Sir Hamish hesitated, but only for a moment, before proceeding. Had David Heath heard the conversation that had taken place so far, he would have stood up, shaken hands with the Secretary of State, removed the top of his fountain pen and headed toward the contract—but not his employer.
“Yes, Minister, I feel I must,” said Sir Hamish firmly.
“Will you kindly leave us, Miss Vieites?” said the Secretary of State.
The assistant closed her shorthand book, rose and left the room. Sir Hamish waited for the door to close before he began again.
“Yesterday I had a visit from a countryman of yours, a Mr. Victor Perez, who resides here in Mexico City and claims—”
“An excellent man,” said the minister very quietly.
Still Sir Hamish charged on. “Yes, I daresay he is, Minister, but he asked to be allowed to represent Graham Construction as our agent and I wondered—”