“Why do you ask?”
“Answer my question, and you will know.”
“Very well, I do bank with Marsh, Stracey, Fauntleroy & Graham—and what then?”
“Draw out every farthing of balance you have got before the bank closes at five to-day.”
I stared at him in speechless amazement. The words, for an instant, absolutely petrified me.
“Stare as much as you like,” he proceeded, coolly, “I mean what I say. Look at your clock there. In twenty minutes it will strike five, and the bank will be shut. Draw out every farthing, I tell you again, and look sharp about it.”
“Draw out my money!” I exclaimed, partially recovering myself. “Are you in your right senses? Do you know that the firm I bank with represents one of the first houses in the world? What do you mean—you, who are a total stranger to me—by taking this extraordinary interest in my affairs? If you want me to act on your advice, why don’t you explain yourself?”
“I have explained myself. Act on my advice or not, just as you like. It doesn’t matter to me. I have done what I promised, and there’s an end of it.”
He turned to the door. The minute-hand of the clock was getting on from the twenty minutes to the quarter.
“Done what you promised?” I repeated, getting up to stop him.