"Perhaps you can let me see the ledgers containing those two accounts?" "Most certainly." Mr. Balderby touched the spring of a handbell upon his table. "Ask Mr. Austin to bring the daily balance and deposit accounts ledgers," he said to the person who answered his summons. Clement Austin appeared five minutes afterwards, carrying two ponderous morocco-bound volumes. Mr. Balderby opened both ledgers, and placed them before his senior partner. Henry Dunbar looked at the deposit account. His eyes ran eagerly down the long row of figures before him until they came to the sum total. Then his chest heaved, and he drew a long breath, like a man who feels almost stifled by some internal oppression. The last figures in the page were these: 137,926_l_. 17_s_. 2_d_. One hundred and thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and twenty-six pounds seventeen shillings and twopence. The twopence seemed a ridiculous anti-climax; but business-men are necessarily as exact in figures as calculating-machines. "How is this money invested?" asked Henry Dunbar, pointing to the page. His fingers trembled a little as he did so, and he dropped his hand suddenly upon the ledger. "There's fifty thousand in India stock," Mr. Balderby answered, as indifferently as if fifty thousand pounds more or less was scarcely worth speaking of; "and there's five-and-twenty in railway debentures, Great Western. Most of the remainder is floating in Exchequer bills." "Then you can realize the Exchequer bills?" Mr. Balderby winced as if some one had trodden upon one of his corns. He was a banker heart and soul, and he did not at all relish the idea of any withdrawal of the bank's resources, however firm that establishment might stand. "It's rather a large amount of capital to withdraw from the business," he said, rubbing his chin, thoughtfully. "I suppose the bank can afford it!" Mr. Dunbar exclaimed, with a tone of surprise. "Oh, yes; the bank can afford it well enough. Our calls are sometimes heavy. Lord Yarsfield—a very old customer—talks of buying an estate in Wales; he may come down upon us at any moment for a very stiff sum of money. However, the capital is yours, Mr. Dunbar; and you've a right to dispose of it as you please. The Exchequer bills shall be realized immediately." "Good; and if you can dispose of the railway bonds to advantage, you may do so." "You think of spending——" "I think of reinvesting the money. I have an offer of an estate north of the metropolis, which I think will realize cent per cent a few years hence: but that is an after consideration. At present we have only to do with the diamond-necklace for my daughter. I shall buy the diamonds myself, direct from the merchant-importers. You will hold yourself ready after Wednesday, we'll say, to cash some very heavy cheques on my account?" "Certainly, Mr. Dunbar."