“The bank’s blown up!” said he. “No, it ain’t,” rejoined Potts. “Why not?” “There’s gold enough to pay all that’s likely to be offered.” “How much more do you think will be offered?” “Not much; it stands to reason.” “It stands to reason that every note which you’ve issued will be sent back to you. So I’ll trouble you to give me my sixty thousand; and I advise you as a friend to hold on to the rest.” “Clark!” said Potts, “you’re getting timider and timider. You ain’t got any more pluck these times than a kitten.” “It’s a time when a man’s got to be careful of his earnings,” said Clark. “How much have you out in notes? You told me once you had out about £180,000, perhaps more. Well, you’ve already had to redeem about £75,000. That leaves £105,000 yet, and you’ve only got £67,000 to pay it with. What have you got to say to that?” “Well!” said Potts. “The Brandon Bank may go--but what then? You forget that I have the Brandon estate. That’s worth two millions.” “You got it for two hundred thousand.” “Because it was thrown away, and dropped into my hands.” “It’ll be thrown away again at this rate. You owe Smithers & Co.” “Pooh! that’s all offset by securities which I hold.” “Queer securities!” “All good,” said Potts. “All first-rate. It’ll be all right. We’ll have to put it through.” “But what if it isn’t all right?” asked Clark, savagely. “You forget that I have Smithers & Co. to fall back on.” “If your bank breaks, there is an end of Smithers & Co.” “Oh no. I’ve got this estate to fall back on, and they know it. I can easily explain to them. If they had only been in town I shouldn’t have had to make this sacrifice. You needn’t feel troubled about your money. I’ll give you security on the estate to any amount. I’ll give you security for seventy thousand,” said Potts. Clark thought for a while. “Well!” said he, “it’s a risk, but I’ll run it” “There isn’t time to get a lawyer now to make out the papers; but whenever you fetch one I’ll do it.” “I’ll get one to-day, and you’ll sign the papers this evening. In my opinion by that time the bank’ll be shut up for good, and you’re a fool for your pains. You’re simply throwing away what gold you have.” Potts went down not long after. It was the fourth day of the run. Miscellaneous callers thronged the place, but the amounts were not large. In two hours not more than five thousand were paid out. At length a man came in with a carpet-bag. He pulled out a vast quantity of notes. “How much?” asked the clerk, blandly. “Thirty thousand pounds,” said the man. Potts heard this and came out. “How much?” he asked. “Thirty thousand pounds.” “Do you want it in gold?” “Of course.” “Will you take a draft on Messrs. Smithers & Co.?” “No, I want gold.”