In the Board room of the British and Imperial Granaries, Limited, were four vacant chairs and four unoccupied desks, each of the latter piled with a mass of letters. Outside was disquietude, in the street almost a riot. Callers were compelled to form themselves into a queue,—and left with scanty comfort. Wingate, by what seemed to be special favour, was passed through the little throng and ushered by Harrison himself into the deserted Board room.
"So you have no news of any of your directors, Harrison?" the former observed.
"None whatever, sir."
The two men exchanged long and in a way searching glances. Harrison was, as always, the lank and cadaverous nonentity, the man of negative suspicions and infinite reserves. His eyes were fixed upon the carpet. He was a study in passivity.
"What happens to the business, eh—to your big operations?"
Wingate enquired.
"The business suffers to some extent, of course," Harrison admitted.
"Your banking arrangements?"
"I have limited powers of signature. So far the bank has been lenient."
"I see," Wingate ruminated,—and waited.
"The general policy of the firm is, as you are aware, to buy," Harrison continued thoughtfully. "That policy has naturally been suspended during the last forty-eight hours. There are rumours, too, of a large shipment of wheat from an unexpected source, by some steamers which we had failed to take account of. Prices are dropping every hour."