The banker looked thoughtfully at the glasses he held in his hand. “True,” he said. “Quite true. But trade is brisk, and the demand for credit is large. We must meet the demand, Rodd, as far as we can—with safety. That’s our business.”
“And we’ve a lot of money out—that could not be got in in a hurry, sir.”
“Yes,” the banker admitted, “but that is our business, too. If we did not put our money out we might close the bank to-morrow. That much of the money cannot be got in at a minute’s notice is a thing we cannot avoid.”
The perspiration stood on Rodd’s forehead, but he persisted. “If it were all on bills, sir, I would not say a word. But there is a lot on overdraft.”
“Well secured.”
“While things are up. But if things went down, sir? There’s Wolley’s account. I suspect that the last bills we discounted for him were accommodation. Indeed, I am sure of it. And his overdraft is heavy.”
“We hold the lease of his mill.”
“But you don’t want to run the mill!” Rodd replied, putting his finger on the weak point.
The banker reflected. “That’s the worst account we have. The worst, isn’t it?”
“Mr. Acherley’s, sir.”