But an hour or two later a thing occurred which might have passed unnoticed at another time, but on that day had a meaning for three out of the five in the bank. The door opened a little more abruptly5 than usual, a man pushed his way in. He was a publican in a fair way of business in the town, a smug ruddy-gilled man who, in his younger days, had been a pugilist at Birmingham and still ran a cock-pit behind the Spotted6 Dog, between the Foregate and the river. He stepped to the counter, his small shrewd eyes roving slyly from one to another.
Arthur went forward to attend to him. "What is it, Mr. Brownjohn?" he asked. But already his suspicions were aroused.
"Well, sir," the man answered bluntly, "what we most of us want, sir. The rhino7!"
"Then you've come to the right shop for that," Arthur rejoined, falling into his humor. "How much?"
"How's my account, sir?"
Arthur consulted the book which he took from a ledge8 below the counter. In our time he would have scribbled9 the sum on a scrap10 of paper and passed the paper over in silence. But in those days many customers would have been none the wiser for that, for they could not read. So, "One, four, two, and three and six-pence," he said.
"Well, I'll take it," the publican announced, gazing straight before him.
Arthur understood, but not a muscle of his face betrayed his knowledge. "Brewers' day?" he said lightly. "Mr. Rodd, draw a cheque for Mr. Brownjohn. One four two, three and six. Better leave five pounds to keep the account open?"
"Oh, well!" Mr. Brownjohn was a little taken aback. "Yes, sir, very well."
"One three seven, Rodd, three and six." And while the customer, laboriously11 and with a crimsoning12 face, scrawled13 his signature on the cheque, Arthur opened a drawer and counted out the amount in Ovington's notes. "Twenty-seven fives, and two, three, six," he muttered, pushing it over. "You'll find that right, I think."
Brownjohn had had his lesson from Wolley, who put up at his house, but he had not learnt it perfectly14. He took the notes, and thumbed them over, wetting his thumb as he turned each, and he found the tale correct. "Much obliged, gentlemen," he muttered, and with a perspiring15 brow he effected his retreat. Already he doubted--so willingly had his money been paid--if he had been wise. He was glad that he had left the five pounds.
But the door had hardly closed on him before Arthur asked the cashier how much gold he had in the cash drawer.
"The usual, sir. One hundred and fifty and thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four--one hundred and eighty-four."
"Fetch up two hundred more before Mr. Brownjohn comes back," Arthur said. "Don't lose time."
Rodd did not like Arthur, but he did silent homage16 to his sharpness. He hastened to the safe and was back in two minutes with twenty rouleaux of sovereigns. "Shall I break them, sir?" he asked.
"Yes, I think so. Ah!" as the door swung open and one of the Welsh brothers entered. It was Mr. Frederick. Arthur nodded. "Good day, Welsh, I was thinking of you. I fancy Clement17 wants to see you."
"Right--in one moment," the lawyer replied. "Just put that----"
But Arthur saw that he had a cheque to pay in--he banked at Dean's but had clients' accounts with them--and he broke in on his business. "Clement," he said, "here's Welsh. Just give him your father's message."
Clement came forward with his father's invitation--oysters and whist at five on Friday--and his opinion on a glass of '20 he was laying down? He kept the lawyer in talk for a minute or two, and then, as Arthur had shrewdly calculated, the door opened and Brownjohn slid in. The man's face was red, and he looked heartily18 ashamed of himself, but he put down his notes on the counter. He was going to speak when, "In a moment, Brownjohn," Arthur said. "What is it, Mr. Welsh?"
"Just put this to the Hobdays' account," the lawyer answered recalled to his business. "Fifty-four pounds two shillings and five-pence. And, by the way, are you going to Garth on Saturday?"
"On Saturday, or Sunday, yes. Can I do anything for you!"
"Will you tell the Squire that that lease will be ready for signature on Saturday week. If you don't mind I'll send it over by you. It will save me a journey."
"Good. I'll tell him. He has been fretting19 about it. Good-day! Now, Mr. Brownjohn?"
"I'd like cash for these," the innkeeper mumbled20, thrusting forward the notes, but looking thoroughly21 ill at ease.
"Man alive, why didn't you say so?" Arthur answered, good-humoredly, "and save yourself the trouble of two journeys? Mr. Rodd, cash for these, please. I've forgotten something I must tell Welsh!" And flinging the cash drawer wide open, he raised the counter-flap and hurried after the lawyer.
Rodd knew what was expected of him, and he took out several fistsful of gold and rattled22 it down before him. Rapidly, as if he handled so many peas, he counted out and thrust aside Mr. Brownjohn's portion, swiftly reckoned it a second time, then swept the balance back into the open drawer. "I think you'll find that right," he said. "Better count it. How's your little girl that was ailing23, Mr. Brownjohn?"
Brownjohn muttered something, his face lighting24 up. Then he counted his gold and sneaked25 out, impressed, as Arthur had intended he should be, with his own unimportance, and more inclined than before to think that he had made a mistake in following Wolley's advice.
But before the bank closed that day two other customers came in and drew out the greater part of their balances. They were both men connected in one way or another with the clothier, and the thing stopped there. The following day was uneventful, but the drawings had been unusual, and the two young clerks might have exchanged notes upon the subject if their elders had not appeared so entirely26 unconscious. As it was, it was impossible for them to think that anything out of the common had happened.
Worse, and far more important, than this matter was the fact that stocks and shares continued to fall all that week. Night after night the arrival of the famous "Wonder," the fast coach which did the journey from London in fifteen hours, was awaited by men who thought nothing of the wintry weather if they might have the latest news. Afternoon after afternoon the journals brought by the mail were fought for and opened in the street by men whose faces grew longer as the week ran on. Some strode up jauntily27, and joined themselves to the group of loungers before the coach-office, while others sneaked up privily28, went no farther than the fringe of the crowd, and there, gravitating together by twos and threes, conferred in low voices over prices and changes. Some, until the coach arrived, lurked29 in a neighboring churchyard, raised above the street, and glancing suspiciously at one another affected30 to be immersed in the study of crumbling31 gravestones; while a few made a pretence32 of being surprised, as they passed, by the arrival of the mail, or hiding themselves in doorways33 appeared only at the last moment, and when they believed that they might do so unobserved.
One thing was noticeable of nearly all these; that they avoided one another's eyes, as if, declining to observe others, they became themselves unseen. Once possessed34 of the paper they behaved in different ways, according as they were of a sanguine35 or despondent36 nature. Some tore the sheet open at once, devoured37 a particular column and stamped or swore, or sometimes flung the paper underfoot. Others sneaked off to the churchyard or to some neighboring nook, and there, unable to wait longer, opened the journal with shaking fingers; while a few--and these perhaps had the most at stake--dared not trust themselves to learn the news where they might by any chance be overlooked, but hurried homewards through "shuts" and by-lanes, and locked themselves in their offices, afraid to let even their wives come near them.
For the news was very serious to very many; the more so as, inexperienced in speculation38, they clung for the most part to the hope of a recovery, and could not bring themselves to sell at a lower figure than that which they might have got a week before. Much less could they bring themselves to sell at an actual loss. They had sat down to play a winning game, and they could not now believe that the seats were reversed, and that they were liable to lose all that they had gained, nay39, in many cases much more than their stake. Amazed, they saw stocks falling, crumbling, nay, sinking to a nominal40 value, while large calls on them remained to be paid, and loans on them to be repaid. No wonder that they stared aghast, or that many after a period of stupefaction, at a state of things so new and so paralyzing, began to feel that it was neck or nothing with them, and bought when they should have sold, seeing that in any case the price to which stock was falling meant their ruin.
For a time indeed there was no public outcry and no great excitement on the surface. For a time men kept their troubles to themselves, jealous lest they should get abroad, and few suspected how common was their plight41 or how many shared it. Men talk of their gains but not of their losses, and the last thing desired by a business man on the brink42 of ruin is that his position should be made public. But those behind the scenes feared only the more for the morrow; for with this ferment43 of fear and suspense44 working beneath the surface it was impossible to say at what moment an eruption45 might not take place or where the ruin would stop. One thing was certain, that it would not be confined to the speculators, for many a sober trader, who had never bought shares in his life, would fail, beggared by the bankruptcy46 of his debtors47.
Ovington returned on the Friday, and Arthur met him at the Lion, as he had met him eleven months before. They played their parts well--so well that even Arthur did not learn the news until the door of the bank had closed behind them and they were closeted with Clement in the dining-room. Then they learned that the news was bad--as bad as it could be.
The banker retained his composure and told his story with calmness, but he looked very weary. Williams'--Williams and Co. were Ovington's correspondents in London--would do nothing, he told them. "They would not re-discount a single bill nor hear of an acceptance. My own opinion is that they cannot."
Arthur looked much disturbed. "As bad as that," he said, "is it?"
"Yes, and I believe, nay, I am sure, lad, that they fear for themselves. I saw the younger Williams. He gave me good words, but that was all; and he looked ill and harassed48 to the last degree. There was a frightened look about them all. I told them that if they would re-discount fifteen thousand pounds of sound short bills, we should need no further help, and might by and by be able to help others. But he would do nothing. I said I should go to the Bank. He let out--though he was very close--that others had done so, and that the Bank would do nothing. He hinted that they were short of gold there, and saw nothing for it but a policy of restriction49. However, I went there, of course. They were very civil, but they told me frankly50 that it was impossible to help all who came to them; that they must protect their reserve. They were inclined to find fault, and said it was credit recklessly granted that had produced the trouble, and the only cure was restriction."
"But surely," Arthur protested, "where a bank is able to show that it is solvent51?"
"I argued it with them. I told them that I agreed that the cure was to draw in, but that they should have entered on that path earlier; that to enter on it now suddenly and without discrimination after a period of laxity was the way to bring on the worst disaster the country had ever known. That to give help where it could be shown that moderate help would suffice, to support the sound and let the rotten go was the proper policy, and would limit the trouble. But I could not persuade them. They would not take the best bills, would in fact take nothing, discount nothing, would hardly advance even on government securities. When I left them----"
"Yes?" The banker had paused, his face betraying emotion.
"I heard a rumor52 about Pole's."
"Pole's? Pole's!" Arthur cried, astounded53; and he turned a shade paler. "Sir Peter Pole and Co.? You don't mean it, sir? Why, if they go scores of country banks will go! Scores! They are agents for sixty or seventy, aren't they?"
The banker nodded. His weariness was more and more apparent. "Yes, Pole's," he said gloomily. "And I heard it on good authority. The truth is--it has not extended to the public yet, but in the banks there is panic already. They do not know where the first crash will come, or who may be affected. And any moment the scare may spread to the public. When it does it will run through the country like wild-fire. It will be here in twenty-four hours. It will shake even Dean's. It will shake us down. My God! when I think that for the lack of ten or twelve thousand pounds--which a year ago we could have raised three times over with the stroke of a pen--just for the lack of that a sound business like this----"
He broke off, unable to control his voice. He could not continue. Clement went out softly, and for a minute or so there was silence in the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock, the noise of wheels in the street, the voices of passers-by--voices that drifted in and died away again, as the speakers walked by on the pavement. Opposite the bank, at the corner of the Market Place, two dogs were fighting before a barber's shop. A woman drove them off with an umbrella. Her "Shoo! Shoo!" was audible in the silence of the room.
Before either spoke54 again, Clement returned. He bore a decanter of port, a glass, a slice of cake. "D'you take this, sir," he said. "You are worn out. And never fear," cheerily, "we shall pull through yet, sir. There will surely be some who will see that it will pay better to help us than to pull us down."
The banker smiled at him, but his hand shook as he poured out the wine. "I hope so," he said. "But we must buckle55 to. It will try us all. A run once started--have there been any withdrawals56?"
They told him what had happened and described the state of feeling in the town. Rodd had been going about, gauging57 it quietly. He could do so more easily, and with less suspicion, than the partners. People were more free with him.
Ovington held his glass before him by the stem and looked thoughtfully at it. "That reminds me," he said, "Rodd had some money with us--three hundred on deposit, I think. He had better have it. It will make no difference one way or the other, and he cannot afford to lose it."
Arthur looked doubtful. "Three hundred," he said, "might make the difference."
"Well, it might, of course," the banker admitted wearily. "But he had better have it. I should not like him to suffer."
"No," Clement said. "He must have it. Shall I see to it now? The sooner the better."
No one demurred58, and he left the room. When he had gone Arthur rose and walked to the window. He looked out. Presently he turned. "As to that twelve thousand?" he said. "That you said would pull us through? Is there no way of getting it? Can't you think of any way, sir?"
"I am afraid not," Ovington answered, shaking his head. "I see no way. I've strained our resources, I've tried every way. I see no way unless----"
"Yes, sir? Unless?"
"Unless--and I am afraid that there is no chance of that--your uncle could be induced to come forward and support us--in your interest."
Arthur laughed aloud, but there was no mirth in the sound. "If that is your hope, if you have any idea of that kind, sir," he said, "I am afraid you don't know him yet. I know nothing less likely."
"I am afraid that you are right. Still, your future is at stake. I am sorry that it is so, lad, but there it is. And if it could be made clear to him that he ran no risk?"
"But could it? Could it?"
"He would run no risk."
"But could he be brought to see that?" Arthur spoke sharply, almost with contempt. "Of course he could not! If you knew what his attitude is towards banks generally, and bankers, you would see the absurdity59 of it! He hates the very name of Ovington's."
The other yielded. "Just so," he said. Even to him the idea was unpalatable. "It was only a forlorn hope, a wild idea, lad, and I'll say no more about it. It comes to this, that we must depend on ourselves, show a brave face, and hope for the best."
But Arthur, though he had scoffed60 at the suggestion which Ovington had made, could not refrain from turning it over in his mind. He had courage enough for anything, and it was not the lack of that which hindered him from entertaining the project. The storm which was gathering61 ahead, and which threatened the shipwreck62 of his cherished ambition and his dearest hopes, was terrible to him, and to escape from its fury he would have faced any man, had that been all. But that was not all. He had other interests. If he applied64 to the Squire and the Squire took it amiss, as it was pretty certain that he would, then not only would no good be done and no point be gained, but the life-boat, on which he might himself escape, if things came to the worst, would be shipwrecked also.
For that life-boat consisted in the Squire's influence with Josina. The Squire's word might still prevail with the girl, silly and unpractical as she was. It was a chance; no more than a chance, Arthur recognized that. But at Garth the old man's will had always been law, and if he could be brought to put his foot down, Arthur could not believe that Josina would resist him. And amid the wreck63 of so many hopes and so many ambitions, every chance, even a desperate chance, was of value.
But if he was to retain the Squire's favor, if he was to fall back on his influence, he must do nothing to forfeit65 that favor. Certainly he must not hazard it by acting66 on a suggestion as ill-timed and hopeless as that which the banker had put forward. Not to save the bank, not to save Ovington, not to save anyone! The more, as he felt sure that the application would do none of these things.
Ovington did not know the old man. He did, and he was not going to sink his craft, crank and frail67 as it already was, by taking in passengers.
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1
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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rhino
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| n.犀牛，钱, 现金 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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crimsoning
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| 变为深红色（crimson的现在分词形式） | |
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scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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ailing
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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solvent
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| n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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54
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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55
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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56
withdrawals
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| n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻 | |
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57
gauging
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| n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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58
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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60
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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62
shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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63
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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65
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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66
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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