CHAPTER 22. BANK OFFICIALS IN COUNCIL.

 Mr. Graves was at home, but he was not alone. Mr. Courtney had dropped in, and as he was still a director of the bank, it was natural that the conversation should turn upon affairs of the bank in which he and Mr. Graves had a common interest. Though no longer president, Mr. Courtney was still anxious to control the affairs of the bank, and to make it of as much service to himself as possible. He had recently become interested in certain speculative¹ securities, through a firm of Wall Street brokers², and finding himself rather cramped³ for money, desired to obtain a loan on them from the bank. To this end he had sought a preliminary interview with Mr. Graves, previous to making a formal application to the full board of directors.

 

"You are aware, Mr. Courtney," said the president, "that to grant your request would be contrary to the general usage of the bank."

 

"I ought to know the usage of the bank,[Pg 160] having served as president for three years," said Mr. Courtney. "In my time such loans were made."

 

Mr. Graves was aware of this, but he was also aware that such loans had been made on the former president's sole authority, and either to himself or some one of his friends, and that it was on account of this very circumstance that he had been removed from office.

 

"I know that such loans were made, but I am equally certain that such a course would not meet the approval of the directors."

 

"But," insinuated⁴ Mr. Courtney, "if you openly favored it, and my vote as director was given, we could probably influence enough other votes to accomplish our object."

 

"I cannot say whether this would or would not follow," said Mr. Graves, "but I am bound to say for myself that I cannot recommend, or vote for, granting such a loan."

 

"Perhaps you think I am not responsible," said Mr. Courtney, irritated.

 

"I presume you are, but that ought not to be considered, when the question is about violating our fixed⁵ usage."

 

"It seems to me, considering my official connection with the bank, that a point might be strained in my favor."

 

[Pg 161]

 

"That is not my view, Mr. Courtney; although I am now president, I should not care to ask any special favor of the bank. I prefer to be treated like any other customer."

 

Mr. Courtney mentally voted Graves slow and behind the times. In his views, one great advantage of holding a high financial position was to favor himself and his own interests, without special regard to the welfare of the corporation or stockholders.

 

"You wouldn't find many bank presidents agree with you, Mr. Graves," said Courtney impatiently.

 

"I am sorry to hear it," returned the president gravely. "It seems to me that I owe a duty to the stockholders of the bank which ought to override⁶ any personal considerations."

 

"You are very quixotic in your ideas," said Courtney coldly.

 

"I am sure I am right, at any rate," returned Graves firmly.

 

"I consider your refusal unfriendly—nay, more, I think it is calculated to throw suspicion on my financial position."

 

"Not at all. I have no reason to doubt your financial stability, and as to the unkindness, when I distinctly state that I would not ask[Pg 162] such a favor for myself, you will see that I am disposed to treat you as well as myself."

 

"It may be so," sneered⁷ Courtney, "but I presume you are not at present in need of a personal loan, and—circumstances alter cases, you know."

 

"If you mean that I shall at any future time ask favors for myself, which, I am not disposed to grant to you, you are mistaken," said the president.

 

"My financial position is as strong as yours," said Courtney rather irrelevantly⁹.

 

"Very probably you are a richer man than I am, but as I said, that is not in question."

 

At this point a servant entered, and said to the president:

 

"Mr. Graves, there is a boy outside who says he wants to see you."

 

"What boy is it?"

 

"Grit¹⁰ Morris."

 

"Very well; you can bring him in."

 

"The young boatman," said Courtney contemptuously. "I wouldn't allow a boy like that to take up my time."

 

"He may have something of importance to communicate. Besides, I don't set so high a value on my time."

 

This will illustrate¹¹ the difference between the two men. Mr. Graves was pleasant and [Pg 163]affable to all, while Mr. Courtney was stiff, and apparently¹² always possessed¹³ of a high idea of his own importance and dignity. In this respect, his son Phil was his counterpart.

 

Into the presence of these two gentlemen Grit was admitted.

 

"Good morning, Grit," said the president pleasantly. "Take a seat. Margaret tells me you wish to see me."

 

"Yes, sir, I wish to see you on a matter of importance."

 

"Perhaps he wants a loan from the bank," suggested Mr. Courtney scornfully.

 

"If Grit wanted a loan, he would not need to apply to the bank," said Mr. Graves, in a friendly manner. "I would lend him, myself."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Graves," said Grit gratefully, "but I don't wish any loan for myself. My business relates to the bank, however."

 

Both gentlemen were rather surprised to hear this. They could not understand what business Grit could have with the bank.

 

"Go on, Grit," said Mr. Graves. "Mr. Courtney is one of our directors, so that you may speak freely before him."

 

"I understand," commenced Grit, coming at once to the point, "that you are intending to send up thirty thousand dollars in [Pg 164]government bonds to the Merchants' Bank, in Boston."

 

Mr. Graves and Mr. Courtney looked at each other in surprise. This was a bank secret, and such matters were generally kept very close with them.

 

"How did you learn this?" asked the president, in surprise, "and if so, what can you have to say in regard to it?"

 

"Perhaps he wants to be the messenger," said Mr. Courtney, with a derisive¹⁵ smile.

 

Grit took no notice of this, for his mind was occupied with the plan of the would-be robbers.

 

"I will tell you at once," he said. "There is a plan to waylay¹⁶ the messenger, and relieve him of the bonds."

 

Here was a fresh surprise. Mr. Graves began to find Grit's communication of absorbing interest.

 

"How do you know this?" he asked cautiously.

 

"Because I overheard the robbers discussing their plan."

 

"You say the robbers. Then there are more than one?"

 

"Yes, there are two."

 

"Are you willing to tell me who they are, Grit?"

 

[Pg 165]

 

"That is what I came to tell you. I am sorry to say that one is my stepfather, as I am obliged to call him, Mr. Brandon."

 

"Mr. Brandon? I thought he was——" Here Mr. Graves paused, out of delicacy¹⁷.

 

"He has been in prison until a few days since," said Grit, understanding what the president of the bank intended to say, "but now he is free."

 

"And where is he?"

 

"He is living at our house. Since he got back, he has given my mother and myself a great deal of trouble. Not content with living on us, he has spent what money he could get at the tavern¹⁸, and because I would give him no more, he sold my boat without my knowledge."

 

"That was bad, Grit. To whom did he sell it?" asked Mr. Graves.

 

"To Mr. Courtney's son Phil!" answered Grit.

 

"My son's name is Philip," said Mr. Courtney stiffly.

 

"We boys generally call him Phil," said Grit, smiling. "However, that doesn't matter."

 

"My son had a right to purchase the boat," said Mr. Courtney.

 

[Pg 166]

 

"I have nothing to say as to that, at any rate now," returned Grit. "I only mention it to show how Mr. Brandon has treated us."

 

"Who was the other conspirator¹⁹, Grit?" asked Graves.

 

"A companion of Mr. Brandon's, named Travers. I understand they are to be employed by a third person, now staying at the hotel, a man named Johnson."

 

"One thing more, Grit, how did you come to hear of their plan?"

 

Grit answered this question fully¹⁴. He related how he had overheard the conference between his stepfather and Travers in the afternoon.

 

"This information is of great importance, Grit," said the president. "If, as you say, there are three conspirators²⁰, there would be a very good chance of their succeeding in overpowering any messenger, and abstracting the bonds. As it happens, the bonds do not belong to the bank, but to an individual depositor, but it would be very unpleasant and mortifying²¹ to have them taken from our messenger. It might lead to a supposition on the part of some that we didn't keep our secrets well, but suffered a matter as important as this to become known [Pg 167]outside. Mr. Courtney, what would you advise to be done in such an emergency?"

 

Courtney always looked important when his advice was asked, and answered promptly²²:

 

"It is a very simple matter. Put the messenger on his guard. Supply him with a revolver, if need be, and if he is on the watch he can't be robbed."

 

Mr. Graves looked thoughtful, and appeared to be turning over this advice in his mind.

 

"If Mr. Courtney will excuse me," Grit said, "I think there is a better plan than that."

 

Courtney's lip curled.

 

"Ask the boy's advice, by all means, Mr. Graves," he said, with a palpable sneer⁸. "It must be very valuable, considering his experience and knowledge of the world."

1 speculative   

adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的

参考例句：

• Much of our information is speculative.我们的许多信息是带推测性的。
• The report is highly speculative and should be ignored.那个报道推测的成分很大，不应理会。

2 brokers   

n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• The firm in question was Alsbery & Co., whiskey brokers. 那家公司叫阿尔斯伯里公司，经销威士忌。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• From time to time a telephone would ring in the brokers' offices. 那两排经纪人房间里不时响着叮令的电话。 来自子夜部分

3 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

4 insinuated   

v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入

参考例句：

• The article insinuated that he was having an affair with his friend's wife. 文章含沙射影地点出他和朋友的妻子有染。
• She cleverly insinuated herself into his family. 她巧妙地混进了他的家庭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

6 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

7 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

8 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

9 irrelevantly   

adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地

参考例句：

• To-morrow!\" Then she added irrelevantly: \"You ought to see the baby.\" 明天，”随即她又毫不相干地说：“你应当看看宝宝。” 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
• Suddenly and irrelevantly, she asked him for money. 她突然很不得体地向他要钱。 来自互联网

10 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

11 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

12 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

13 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

14 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

15 derisive   

adj.嘲弄的

参考例句：

• A storm of derisive applause broke out.一阵暴风雨般的哄笑声轰然响起。
• They flushed,however,when she burst into a shout of derisive laughter.然而，当地大声嘲笑起来的时候，她们的脸不禁涨红了。

16 waylay   

v.埋伏，伏击

参考例句：

• She lingered outside the theater to waylay him after the show.她在戏院外面徘徊想在演出之后拦住他说话。
• The trucks are being waylaid by bandits.卡车被强盗拦了下来。

17 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

18 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

19 conspirator   

n.阴谋者，谋叛者

参考例句：

• We started abusing him,one conspirator after another adding his bitter words.我们这几个预谋者一个接一个地咒骂他，恶狠狠地骂个不停。
• A conspirator is not of the stuff to bear surprises.谋反者是经不起惊吓的。

20 conspirators   

n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句

21 mortifying   

adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）

参考例句：

• I've said I did not love her, and rather relished mortifying her vanity now and then. 我已经说过我不爱她，而且时时以伤害她的虚荣心为乐。 来自辞典例句
• It was mortifying to know he had heard every word. 知道他听到了每一句话后真是尴尬。 来自互联网

22 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。