“My dear governor,” he stammered, trying to conciliate his opponent by cordial familiarity, “as I told you I have the utmost respect for the Bank of England. You see, I am rather well off, and within the last day or two I have plunged, and every available asset I possess except one I have put into stocks and shares. I’ve thought this thing out——”
“Oh, you’ve thought it out,” said the governor.
“Yes, as well as I was able, and I believe that after the first of January London is going to see the greatest boom in stocks and shares that has ever taken place in the history of finance.”
“What are your grounds for such a belief, my lord?”
“The—the respect I hold for the Bank of England. We want to see the good old Bank of England buck up. It’s humiliating to think that an upstart like Wall Street should be able to play Hey-diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle, with a venerable institution like this. Why, it’s as if some one spoke disrespectfully of one’s grandmother. I want to see the bank buck up, and that’s why I’m here.”
The governor bucked up. He rose like a statue of wrath.
“My lord, this interview must terminate. The Bank of England cannot assist you in your speculations. You should have consulted Alexander Corbitt if you wished further credit, should he happen to be your banker.”
Stranleigh had risen when he saw the governor on his feet.
“I did.”
“Then you had better go back to him. He surely never advised you to see me?”