"Because if you decline to serve, or can't serve, or do take on this chore and want to drop it later, or anything, Mr. Smith has his own second choice for the job - Ben Caxton, it is.  Stand up for a second, Ben; let people see you.  And if both you and Caxton can't or won't, his next choice is - well, I'll guess we'll reserve that name for the moment; just let it rest that there are successive choices.  Uh, let me see now-" Jubal looked fuddled- "I'm out of the habit of talking on my feet.  Miriam, where is that piece of paper we listed things on?"