“Ahem! Aw—!” Archie began.
“One minute, sir,” said the clerk nearest him. “Fives in forty thousand? Fives in forty are eight—eight thousand.”
The clerk advanced pen in mouth.
“Do you come from Jenkins’s about those bills?”
“No, I come from England; and I’ve a letter of introduction to your master.” Archie brought the last word out with a bang.
“Mr Berry isn’t in. Will you leave a message?”
“No, thank you.”
“As you please.”
Archie was going off, when the clerk called after him, “Here is Mr Berry himself, sir.”
A tall, brown-faced, elderly gentleman, with very white hair and pleasant smile. He took Archie into the office, bade him be seated, and slowly read the letter; then he approached the young man and shook hands. The hand felt like a dead fish’s tail in Archie’s, and somehow the smile had vanished.