“Quite right, quite right,” Sir Charles murmured, much relieved.
“He’ll not take it!” Wolley persisted.
“My dear sir!”
“You will see I am right.”
“Well, there are more ways than one. At any rate I will see him and report to the next meeting, when, with the chairman’s approbation, we shall draw up the prospectus. In that connection”—he consulted his paper—“I have already received overtures from customers of the bank for four hundred shares.” There was a murmur of applause and Grounds’s face betrayed relief. “Then Sir Charles has put himself down for three hundred.” He bowed deferentially to Woosenham. “Mr. Acherley for one hundred and fifty, Mr. Wolley has taken up one hundred and twenty-five, and Mr. Grounds—I have not heard from Mr. Grounds, and there is no hurry. No hurry at all!”
But Grounds, feeling that all eyes were on him, and feeling also uncomfortable in his company, took the fence up to which he had been brought. He murmured that he would take one hundred and twenty-five.
“Excellent!” said Ovington. “And I, on behalf of the bank, propose to take four hundred.” Again there was a murmur of applause. “So that before we go to the public we have already one-third of the shares taken up. That being so, I feel no doubt that we shall start at a premium before we cut the first sod.”
There followed a movement of feet, an outburst of hilarity. For this was what they all wished to hear; this was the point. Chairs were pushed back, and Sir Charles, who was as fearful for his prestige as Grounds for his money, recovered his cheerfulness. Even Acherley became good-humored. “Well, here’s to the Valleys Railroad!” he cried. “Damme, we ought to have something to drink it in!”
The banker ignored this, and Sir Charles spoke. “But as to the seventh seat at the Board? We have not arranged that, I think?” He liked to show that nothing escaped him, and that if he was above business he could still, when he condescended, be a business man.
“No,” Ovington agreed. “But I suggest that, with your permission, we hold that over. There may be a big subscriber taking three or four hundred shares?”