At Sunday dinner, my son-in-law smiled across the …

He nodded once, almost imperceptibly, as if some private theory had just been confirmed. “Mr.

Bennett informed us last week,” he said, “that your continued participation was a formality.”

The wording was so measured it almost made me smile. “He says many things as if they are facts,” I replied. Samuel slid the signature page toward himself instead of toward me.

“Because the line renews this week, your refusal to reaffirm materially changes the file. We would have to take it back to committee. They may reduce exposure, reprice the facility, or require additional collateral.”

“Would they call the note?”

“Not immediately.

They would likely give him a short window to cure.”