human
Jake, he said at last,
gpt
I don't know of any. You would have to let Mappin get through with his contracts first.
human
Of course. What I mean is, could we do it as cheaply as he does and pay regulation wages?
gpt
It would take some figuring to answer that. Speaking without the book, you ought to do the work at the contractor's prices and have a profit. He must make one; and you can buy plant and tools on as good terms as he can.
human
That's obvious. Then, on the whole, it ought to pay the Company?
gpt
What do you mean by the Company?
human
Well, the shareholders.
gpt
It might pay--them,
human
I'll consider it when I've a little more to go on. It strikes me that I'm learning things. And now I think I'll get to sleep; my head's aching.