Sir John narrowed his eyes. "Could I, now?"
"Yes. The subscription closed yesterday, but for you--"
"Are they safe?"
"As safe as the Russian government."
"I'll think about it."
Hugh's enthusiasm had been aroused now and he wanted to close the sale. "The rate may not be the same tomorrow, as you know. When the bonds come on the open market the price may go up or down." Then he decided he was sounding too eager, so he backed off. "I'll place this cheque to your account immediately, and if you wish you could talk to one of my uncles about the bonds."
"All right, young Pilaster--off you go."
Hugh went out and met Uncle Samuel in the hall. "Sir John Cammel is in there, Uncle," he said. "I found him in the banking hall looking bad-tempered, so I've given him a glass of Madeira--I hope I did the right thing."
"I'm sure you did," said Samuel. "I'll take care of him."
"He brought in this cheque for a hundred and ten thousand. I mentioned the Russian loan--it's undersubscribed by a hundred thousand."
Samuel raised his eyebrows. "That was precocious of you."
"I only said he might talk to one of the partners about it if he wanted a higher rate of interest."
"All right. It's not a bad idea."
Hugh returned to the banking hall, pulled out Sir John's ledger and entered the deposit, then took the cheque to the clearing clerk. Then he went up to the fourth floor to Mulberry's office. He handed over the tally of Russian bonds, mentioned the possibility that Sir John Cammel might buy the balance, and sat down at his own table.
A walker came in with tea and bread and butter on a tray. This light refreshment was served to all clerks who stayed at the office after four-thirty. When work was light most people left at four. Bank staff were the elite among clerks, much envied by merchants' and shippers' clerks who often worked until late and sometimes right through the night.
A little later Samuel came in and handed some papers to Mulberry. "Sir John bought the bonds," he said to Hugh. "Good work--that was an opportunity well taken."
"Thank you."
Samuel spotted the labeled trays on Mulberry's desk. "What's this?" he said in a tone of amusement. "'For the attention of the Principal Clerk ... Having been dealt with by the Principal Clerk.'"
Mulberry answered him. "The purpose is to keep incoming and outgoing papers separate. It avoids confusion."
"What a good scheme. I think I might do the same."
"As a matter of fact, Mr. Samuel, it was young Mr. Hugh's idea."
