"Yes."

"Splendid! But how?"

"By boats."

"Oh, yes, I know, but have you got the boats and can I get them? I have
the order, you see, and that is the main thing."

"But, madam," asked the man, "have you cabled your company in America
about the contract?"

"No," answered the woman. "What's the use of doing that. I have no money
to spend on cables. Besides, I have full power to act. The price is all
right and the buyers are ready to sign but they want to put into the
agreement some silly business about delivery and I am asking you to help
me get the boats."

"Come and see me," said the Manager.

The woman promised to call the next morning, but she never came. Just
what she had in mind the Manager could never quite tell. But one thing
was proved in this and similar activities: The "Countess" and most of
her sisters who have been trying to put over coal and other contracts in
Paris, have little or no real authorisation for their performances, and
the principal result has been to prejudice French and Italian buyers
against us.

In seeking to make French contracts, some of these adventurers (and they
include both sexes) make the most extravagant claims. One group