2. (a) That's wrong. The same general rule applies in the case of obligations owed by a principal to third parties. A principal must normally tender performance directly to the third party.

If a principal owes money to the third party and pays that money to their agent, with instructions that the money is to be paid to the third party to discharge a contract debt, and the agent fails to pay the third party, the principal remains obligated to the third party.

Of course, if the agent pays the money to the third party as instructed, on behalf of their principal, the principal's obligation to the third party would be discharged.