arranted. I may add that I had
not the slightest idea as to the extent of his dealings."

The bank manager adopted a sympathetic but serious attitude.

"Twenty thousand pounds," he declared, "is a great deal of money,
Mr. Laverick."

"It is a great deal of money," Laverick admitted. "I am here to
ask you to lend it to me."

The bank manager raised his eyebrows.

"My dear Mr. Laverick!" he exclaimed reproachfully.

"Upon unimpeachable security," Laverick continued. The bank manager
was conscious that he had allowed a little start of surprise to
escape him, and bit his lip with annoyance. It was entirely contrary
to his tenets to display at any time during office hours any sort of
emotion.

"Unimpeachable security," he repeated. "Of course, if you have that
to offer, Mr. Laverick, although the sum is a large one, it is our
business to see what we can do for you."

"My security is of the best," Laverick declared grimly. "I have
bank-notes here, Mr. Fenwick, for twenty thousand pounds."

The bank manager was again guilty of an unprofessional action. He
whistled softly under his breath. A very respectable client he
had always considered Mr. Stephen Laverick, but he had certainly
never suspected him of being able to produce at a pinch such evidence
of means. Laverick smoothed out the notes and laid them upon the
table.

"Mr. Fenwick," he said, "I believe I am right in assuming that when
one comes to one's bankers, one enters, as it were, into a
confessional. I feel convinced that nothing which I say to you will
be repeated outside this office, or will be allowed to dwell in your
own mind except with reference to this particular transaction between
you and me. I have the right, have I not, to take that for granted?"

"Most certainly," the banker agreed.

"From a strictly ethical point of view," Laverick went on, "this
money is not mine. I hold it in trust for its owner, but I hold it
without any conditions. I have power to make what use I wish of
it, and I choose to-day to use it on my own behalf. Whether I am
justified or not is scarcely a matter, I presume, which concerns
this excellent banking establishment over which you preside so ably.
I do not pay these bank-notes in to my account and ask you to
credit me with twenty thousand pounds. I ask you to allow me to
deposit them here for seven days as security against an overdraft.
You can then advance me enough money to meet my engagements of
to