Ormond was wakened at the proper hour—went immediately to ——‘s bank. It was but just open, and beginning to do business. He had never been there before—his person was not known to any of the firm. He entered a long narrow room, so dark at the entrance from the street that he could at first scarcely see what was on either side of him—a clerk from some obscure nook, and from a desk higher than himself, put out his head, with a long pen behind his ear, and looked at Ormond as he came in. “Pray, sir, am I right?—Is this Mr. ——‘s bank?”
“Yes, sir.”
With mercantile economy of words, and a motion of his head, the clerk pointed out to Ormond the way he should go—and continued casting up his books. Ormond walked down the narrow aisle, and it became light as he advanced towards a large window at the farther end, before which three clerks sat at a table opposite to him. A person stood with his back to Ormond, and was speaking earnestly to one of the clerks, who leaned over the table listening. Just as Ormond came up he heard his own name mentioned—he recollected the voice—he recollected the back of the figure—the very bottle-green coat—it was Patrickson—Ormond stood still behind him, and waited to hear what was going on.
“Sir,” said the clerk, “it is a very sudden order for a very large sum.”
“True, sir—but you see my power—you know Mr. Ormond’s handwriting, and you know Sir Ulick O’Shane’s—”
“Mr. James,” said the principal clerk, turning to one of the others, “be so good to hand me the letters we have of Mr. Ormond. As we have never seen the gentleman sign his name, sir, it is necessary that we should be more particular in comparing.”
“Oh! sir, no doubt—compare as much as you please—no doubt people cannot be too exact and deliberate in doing business.”
“It certainly is his signature,” said the clerk.
“I witnessed the paper,” said Patrickson.
“Sir, I don’t dispute it,” replied the clerk; “but you cannot blame us for being cautious when such a very large sum is in question, and when we have no letter of advice from the gentleman.”