“Hem! I will not; but Mr Gemp is so well-informed generally.”
“That he is naturally wrong sometimes,” said Sir Gordon. “By-the-way, are they ever going to put that man under the pump? Now, Mr Hallam, have you anything more to ask?”
“Certainly not, Sir Gordon,” replied the manager stiffly. “I understand your allusion, of course; but I have only to say that I look upon my engagement here as a commercial piece of business to be strictly adhered to, and that I know of nothing more degrading to a man than making every change in his life an excuse for asking an increase of salary.”
“And you do not wish to take a holiday trip on the occasion of your wedding?”
“No, Sir Gordon.”
“But the lady?”
“Miss Luttrell knows that she is about to marry a business man, Sir Gordon, and accepts her fate,” said Hallam with a smile.
“Of course you can take a month. I’m sure Trampleasure and Thickens would manage everything in your absence.”
“Excuse me, Sir Gordon, I have no doubt whatever that everything would run like a repeater-watch in my absence; but, with the responsibility of manager of this bank, I could not feel comfortable to run away just in our busiest time. Later on I may take a trip.”
“Just as you like, Hallam, just as you like. Then that is all we have to do?”