Part 36 (2/2)

He was not so old or cold as to be beyond the reach of mortification, and these things stung him. One day he said fretfully to old Skinner, ”It is hardly worth our while to take down the shutters now, for anything we do.”

One afternoon two of his best customers, who were now up to their chins in shares, came and solicited a heavy loan on their joint personal security. Hardie declined. The gentlemen went out. Young Skinner watched them, and told his father they went into the new bank, stayed there a considerable time, and came out looking joyous. Old Skinner told Mr. Hardie. The old gentleman began at last to doubt himself and his system.

”The bank would last my time,” said he, ”but I must think of my son. I have seen many a good business die out because the merchant could not keep up with the times; and here they are inviting me to be director in two of their companies--good mercantile names below me. It is very flattering. I'll write to d.i.c.k. It is just he should have a voice; but, dear heart! at his age we know beforehand he will be for galloping faster than the rest. Well, his old father is alive to curb him.”

It was always the ambition of Mr. Richard Hardie to be an accomplished financier. For some years past he had studied money at home and abroad--scientifically. His father's connection had gained him a footing in several large establishments abroad, and there he sat and worked _en amateur_ as hard as a clerk. This zeal and diligence in a young man of independent means soon established him in the confidence of the chiefs, who told him many a secret. He was now in a great London bank, pursuing similar studies, practical and theoretical.

He received his father's letters sketching the rapid decline of the bank, and finally a short missive inviting him down to consider an enlarged plan of business. During the four days that preceded the young man's visit, more than one application came to Hardie senior for advances on scrip, cargoes coming from Mexico, and joint personal securities of good merchants that were in the current ventures. Old Hardie now, instead of refusing, detained the proposals for consideration. Meantime, he ordered five journals daily instead of one, sought information from every quarter, and looked into pa.s.sing events with a favorable eye. The result was that he blamed himself, and called his past caution timidity. Mr. Richard Hardie arrived and was ushered into the bank parlor. After the first affectionate greetings old Skinner was called in, and, in a little pompous, good-hearted speech, invited to make one in a solemn conference. The compliment brought the tears into the old man's eyes. Mr. Hardie senior opened, showed by the books the rapid decline of business, pointed to the rise of two new banks owing to the tight hand he had held unseasonably, then invited the other two to say whether an enlarged system was not necessary to meet the times, and submitted the last, proposals for loans and discounts. ”Now, sir, let me have your judgment.”

”After my betters, sir,” was old Skinner's reply.

”Well, d.i.c.k, have you formed any opinion on this matter?”

”I have, sir.”

”I am extremely glad of it,” said the old gentleman, very sincerely, but with a shade of surprise; ”out with it, d.i.c.k.”

The young man thus addressed by his father would not have conveyed to us the idea of ”d.i.c.k.” His hair was brown; there were no wrinkles under his eyes or lines in his cheek, but in his manner there was no youth whatever. He was tall, commanding, grave, quiet, cold, and even at that age almost majestic. His first sentence, slow and firm, removed the paternal notion that a cipher or a juvenile had come to the council-table.

”First, sir, let me return to you my filial thanks for that caution which you seem to think has been excessive. There I beg respectfully to differ with you.”

”I am glad of it, d.i.c.k; but now you see it is time to relax, eh?”

”No, sir.”

The two old men stared at one another. The senile youth proceeded: ”That some day or other our system will have to be relaxed is probable, but just now all it wants is--tightening.”

”Why, d.i.c.k? Skinner, the boy is mad. You can't have watched the signs of the times.”

”I have, sir; and looked below the varnish.”

”To the point, then, d.i.c.k. There is a general proposal 'to relax our system.' The boy uses good words, Skinner, don't he? and here are six particulars over which you can cast your eye. Hand them to him, Skinner.”

”I will take things in that order,” said Richard, quietly running his eye over the papers. There was a moment's silence. ”It is proposed to connect the bank with the speculations of the day.”

”That is not fairly stated, d.i.c.k; it is too broad. We shall make a selection; we won't go in the stream above ankle deep.”

”That is a resolution, sir, that has been often made but never kept--for this reason: you can't sit on dry land and calculate the force of the stream. It carries those who paddle in it off their feet, and then they must swim with it or--sink.”

”d.i.c.k, for Heaven's sake, no poetry here.”

”Nay, sir,” said old Skinner, ”remember, 'twas you brought the stream in.”

”More fool I. 'Flow on, thou s.h.i.+ning d.i.c.k'; only the more figures of arithmetic, and the fewer figures of speech, you can give old Skinner and me, the more weight you will carry with us.”

The young man colored a moment, but never lost his ponderous calmness.

”I will give you figures in their turn, But we were to begin with the general view. Half-measures, then, are no measures; they imply a vacillating judgment; they are a vain attempt to make a pound of rashness and a pound of timidity into two pounds of prudence. You permit me that figure, sir; it comes from the summing-book. The able man of business fidgets. He keeps quiet, or carries something out.”

Old Skinner rubbed his hands. ”These are wise words, sir.”

<script>