ingabilletasever.
“AtlastIsawavacancyatMawson&Williams’,thegreatstockbrokingfirminLombardStreet.IdaresayE.C.isnotmuchinyourline,butIcantellyouthatthisisabouttherichesthouseinLondon.Theadvertisementwastobeansweredbyletteronly.Isentinmytestimonialandapplication,butwithouttheleasthopeofgettingit.Backcameananswerbyreturn,sayingthatifIwouldappearnextMondayImighttakeovermynewdutiesatonce,providedthatmyappearancewassatisfactory.Nooneknowshowthesethingsareworked.Somepeoplesaythatthemanagerjustplungeshishandintotheheapandtakesthefirstthatcomes.Anyhowitwasmyinningsthattime,andIdon’teverwishtofeelbetterpleased.Thescrewwasapoundaweekrise,andthedutiesjustaboutthesameasatCoxon’s.
“AndnowIcometothequeerpartofthebusiness.IwasindiggingsoutHampsteadway—17,Potter’sTerrace.Well,IwassittingdoingasmokethatveryeveningafterIhadbeenpromisedtheappointment,whenupcamemylandladywithacardwhichhad‘ArthurPinner,FinancialAgent,’printeduponit.Ihadneverheardthenamebeforeandcouldnotimaginewhathewantedwithmebut,ofcourse,Iaskedhertoshowhimup.Inhewalked,amiddle-sized,dark-haired,dark-eyed,black-beardedman,withatouchoftheSheenyabouthisnose.Hehadabriskkindofwaywithhimandspokesharply,likeamanwhoknewthevalueoftime.”
“‘Mr.HallPycroft,Ibelieve?’”saidhe.
“‘Yes,sir,’Ianswered,pushingachairtowardshim.
“‘LatelyengagedatCoxon&Woodhouse’s?’
“‘Yes,sir.’
“‘AndnowonthestaffofMawson’s.’
“‘Quiteso.’
“‘Well,’saidhe,‘thefactisthatIhaveheardsomereallyextraordinarystoriesaboutyourfinancialability.YourememberParker,whousedtobeCoxon’smanager?Hecanneversayenoughaboutit.’
“OfcourseIwaspleasedtohearthis.Ihadalwaysbeenprettysharpintheoffice,butIhadneverdreamedthatIwastalkedaboutintheCityinthisfashion.
“‘Youhaveagoodmemory?’saidhe.
“‘Prettyfair,’Ianswered,modestly.
“‘Haveyoukeptintouchwiththemarketwhileyouhavebeenoutofwork?’heasked.
“‘YesIreadtheStockExchangeListeverymorning.’
“‘Nowthatshowsrealapplication!’hecried.‘Thatisthewaytoprosper!Youwon’tmindmytestingyou,willyou?Letmesee.HowareAyrshires?’
“‘Ahundredandsixandaquartertoahundredandfiveandseven-eighths.’
“‘AndNewZealandConsolidated?’
“‘Ahundredandfour.
“‘AndBritishBrokenHills?’
“‘Seventoseven-and-six.’
“‘Wonderful!’hecried,withhishandsup.‘ThisquitefitsinwithallthatIhadheard.Myboy,myboy,youareverymuchtoogoodtobeaclerkatMawson’s!’
“Thisoutburstratherastonishedme,asyoucanthink.‘Well,’saidI,‘otherpeopledon’tthinkquitesomuchofmeasyouseemtodo,Mr.Pinner.Ihadahardenoughfighttogetthisberth,andIamverygladtohaveit.’
“‘Pooh,manyoushouldsoaraboveit.Youarenotinyourtruesphere.Now,I’lltellyouhowitstandswithme.WhatIhavetoofferislittleenoughwhenmeasuredbyyourability,butwhencomparedwithMawson’s,it’slighttodark.Letmesee.WhendoyougotoMawson’s?’
“‘OnMonday.’
“‘Ha,ha!IthinkIwouldriskalittlesportingflutterthatyoudon’tgothereatall.’
“‘NotgotoMawson’s?’
“‘No,sir.BythatdayyouwillbethebusinessmanageroftheFranco-MidlandHardwareCompany,Limited,withahundredandthirty-fourbranchesinthetownsandvillagesofFrance,notcountingoneinBrussel