Bence moved to the window, and looked out.
"A thousand apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr. Marsden." He spoke over his shoulder. "Ah, here the man comes;" and he pulled out his grand gold watch. "Then I've really only wasted three minutes of your valuable time."
"All right," said Marsden sulkily.
The bank clerk came in, and bowed to the company as he went to Mr. Collins's side at the table. Then he opened his wallet and brought out the white sheaves of bank-notes.
"Will you go through them, sir?"
"Yes," said Mr. Collins. "Will you kindly check them with me, Prentice?"
"I'll count them after you," said Mr. Prentice. It did not suit his dignity to leave his chair and go round the table to stand at Collins's elbow.
Mr. Collins found the total of the notes correct, pushed them across to Prentice, and signed the bank receipt.
"Then you won't want me any more," said the bank clerk.
"Wait," said Collins pompously, as if the bank, as well as Mr. Prentice's room, belonged to him. "Stand over there—or sit down, if you please. My clerk will go back with you."