Part 8 (1/2)

”Fool, Captain Cameron! Make no mistake. Sir Archibald may have--ah--the self-importance of a self-made man somewhat under the average height, but he is, without doubt, the best financier that stands at this moment in Scotland, and during the last fifteen years he has brought up the Bank of Scotland to its present position. Fool! He's anything but that.

But he has his weak spots--I wish I knew what they were!--and these we must seek to find out. Do you know him well?”

”Oh, yes, quite well,” said the Captain; ”that is, I've met him at various functions, where he always makes speeches. Very common, I call him. I know his father; a mere cottar. I mean,” added the Captain hurriedly, for he remembered that Mr. Rae was of the same humble origin, ”you know, he is thoroughly respectable and all that, but of no--ah--social or family standing; that is--oh, you understand.”

”Quite,” said Mr. Rae drily.

”Yes, I shall see him,” continued the Captain briskly. ”I shall certainly see him. It is a good suggestion. Sir Archibald knows my family; indeed, his father was from the Erracht region. I shall see him personally. I am glad you thought of that, Mr. Rae. These smaller men, Sheratt and the rest, I do not know--in fact, I do not seem to be able to manage them,--but with Sir Archibald there will be no difficulty, I feel quite confident. When can you arrange the interview?”

Mr. Rae sat gazing thoughtfully into the fire, more and more convinced every moment that he had made a false move in suggesting a meeting between the Captain and Sir Archibald Brodie. But labour as he might he could not turn the Captain from his purpose. He was resolved to see Sir Archibald at the earliest moment, and of the result of the meeting he had no manner of doubt.

”He knew my family, Sir,” insisted the Captain. ”Sir Archibald will undoubtedly accede to my suggestion--ah--request to withdraw his action.

Arrange it, Mr. Rae, arrange it at once.”

And ruefully enough Mr. Rae was compelled to yield against his better judgment.

It was discovered upon inquiry that Sir Archibald had gone for a day or two to his country estate. ”Ah, much better,” said the Captain, ”away from his office and away from the--ah--commercial surroundings of the city. Much better, much better! We shall proceed to his country home.”

Of the wisdom of this proposal Mr. Rae was doubtful. There seemed, however, no other way open. Hence, the following morning found them on their way to Sir Archibald's country seat. Mr. Rae felt that it was an unusual course to pursue, but the time was short, the occasion was gravely critical, and demanded extreme measures.

During their railway journey Mr. Rae strove to impress upon the Captain's mind the need of diplomacy. ”Sir Archibald is a man of strong prejudices,” he urged; ”for instance, his Bank he regards with an affection and respect amounting to veneration. He is a bachelor, you understand, and his Bank is to him wife and bairns. On no account must you treat his Bank lightly.”

”Oh, certainly not,” replied the Captain, who was inclined to resent Mr.

Rae's attempts to school him in diplomacy.

”He is a great financier,” continued Mr. Rae, ”and with him finance is a high art, and financial integrity a sacred obligation.”

”Oh, certainly, certainly,” again replied the Captain, quite unimpressed by this aspect of the matter, for while he considered himself distinctly a man of affairs, yet his interests lay more in matters of great public moment. Commercial enterprises he regarded with a feeling akin to contempt. Money was an extremely desirable, and indeed necessary, appendage to a gentleman's position, but how any man of fine feeling could come to regard a financial inst.i.tution with affection or veneration he was incapable of conceiving. However, he was prepared to deal considerately with Sir Archibald's peculiar prejudices in this matter.

Mr. Rae's forebodings as to the outcome of the approaching interview were of the most gloomy nature as they drove through the finely appointed and beautifully kept grounds of Sir Archibald Brodie's estate.

The interview began inauspiciously. Sir Archibald received them with stiff courtesy. He hated to be pursued to his country home with business matters. Besides, at this particular moment he was deeply engrossed in the inspection of his pigs, for which animals he cherished what might almost be called an absorbing affection. Mr. Rae, who was proceeding with diplomatic caution and skill to approach the matter in hand by way of Sir Archibald's Wilts.h.i.+res, was somewhat brusquely interrupted by the Captain, who, in the firm conviction that he knew much better than did the lawyer how to deal with a man of his own cla.s.s, plunged at once into the subject.

”Awfully sorry to introduce business matters, Sir Archibald, to the attention of a gentleman in the privacy of his own home, but there is a little matter in connection with the Bank in which I am somewhat deeply interested.”

Sir Archibald bowed in silence.

”Rather, I should say, it concerns my son, and therefore, Sir Archibald, myself and my family.”

Again Sir Archibald bowed.

”It is, after all, a trivial matter, which I have no doubt can be easily arranged between us. The truth is, Sir Archibald--,” here the Captain hesitated, as if experiencing some difficulty in stating the case.

”Perhaps Captain Cameron will allow me to place the matter before you, Sir Archibald,” suggested Mr. Rae, ”as it has a legal aspect of some gravity, indeed of very considerable gravity. It is the case of young Mr. Cameron.”

”Ah,” said Sir Archibald shortly. ”Forgery case, I believe.”

”Well,” said Mr. Rae, ”we have not been able as yet to get at the bottom of it. I confess that the case has certainly very grave features connected with it, but it is by no means clear that--”

”There is no need for further statement, Mr. Rae,” said Sir Archibald.