“None but an original mind could have hit upon it, sir. I used to think the late Mr. Robins a very great man, sir,—and he was a great man,—but this is a cut above him.”
“Let us say so when it has succeeded, Hankes,” said Dunn, with a half-smile.
As he spoke, he seated himself at the table, and, opening a massive account-book, was soon deep in its details. Hankes took a place beside him, and they both continued to con over the long column of figures together.
“We stand in a safer position than I thought, Hankes,” said Dunn, leaning back in his chair.
“Yes, sir; we have been nursing this Ossory Bank for some time. You remember, some time ago, saying to me, 'Hankes, put condition on that horse, we 'll have to ride him hard before the season is over'?”
“Well, you have done it cleverly, I must say,” resumed Dunn. “This concern is almost solvent.”
“Almost, sir,” echoed Hankes.
“What a shake it will give them all, Hankes,” said Dunn, gleefully, “when it once sets in, as it will and must, powerfully! The Provincial will stand easily enough.”
“To be sure, sir.”
“And the Royal, also; but the 'Tyrawley'—”