“No fear.”
“But there is fear, sir. You know I can keep things going all right.”
“Yes, Crampton, and show a better balance than I did.”
“Well then, sir, why don’t you let me go on? I can manage, and I will manage if you’ll take a holiday.”
“Holiday, man? why it has been nothing but one long painful holiday lately, and this does me good. Now, bring in the other book.”
Crampton grunted and went into the outer office to return with the cash-book, which he placed before his employer, and drew back into his old position, watching Van Heldre as he eagerly scanned the pages and marked their contents, till, apparently satisfied, he looked up to see that Crampton was smiling down at him.
“What now?”
“Eh?”
“I say what now? Why are you laughing?”
“Only smiling, sir.”