This time there was nothing unusual or disquieting in the tone. Grey had himself caught the import of his own voice in his previous reply, and felt he had made a great mistake. It was very hard though for him, Grey, a man of his position and standing, to sit there and be blandly approved of by this young man--by this young man who seemed to take his own success in all things as a foregone conclusion. He, Grey, must play his cards carefully, and above all things he must not show the direction in which it was necessary for him to force the game. But he was in the dark; and if denied the expression of his feelings to his voice, he might allow them to run riot over his face, and it was a relief to frown and scowl and sneer in silence. "I have first of all a favour to ask you, Mr. Grey." "I am sure, Sir William, if it is in my power to grant it, I shall be only too happy to do so." This was said in the banker's most urbane accents. "Well, I understand that your bank has kept the Midharst account for a long time; will you be kind enough to accept the keeping of mine?" "The Midharst has been the most important of all our accounts for a long time, and we shall feel honoured and delighted if you will favour us with yours." There was nothing very dreadful about this. It seemed as if the young baronet would turn out as confiding and uninquisitive as the old one. So far this looked promising. "And now," said Sir William, "will you do me another favour?" "If," returned the banker, in a gay tone of badinage, "the second _favour_ at all resembles the first, I think I could go on granting you such favours all the night." This young man was not only simple and confiding, but downright amiable and sociable. "You must not think I am extravagant when I have said what I am going to say." "My dear Sir William, if you want any money, you draw on us, as a matter of course, for any sum you may require. That is an affair of ordinary business, not favour; and it was quite unnecessary for you to say anything about it." Things were growing more comfortable as they got along. "Why, I should not wonder," thought Grey, with a smile that almost developed into a laugh,--"I should not wonder if he gave away the bride." "But the sum I require is large." "Draw on us for it in the morning." "I don't think you would say so if you knew the sum." "Try us. Draw on us to-morrow." "Twenty thousand?" "Only? I thought the sum was a serious one! You really must not think of attaching any importance to such a matter. My dear Sir William, you can draw on us for fifty thousand without notice. If you have the least occasion for more than fifty, just tell me four days before you draw, so that there may be no chance of a disappointment to you."