Dry Fish and Wet Part 23

You'll find him in the office."

William came in directly after, went up to his father and took his hand.

"Thank you, father," he said. "I didn't understand at first, but Miss Trap told me all about it. That you only wanted to try us----"

"Eh? Try you? Yes--yes, of course.... Yes, my son; it was--er--it was the only way I could see to make a sensible man of you, and get that artistic nonsense out of your head. Good idea, don't you think?

Compet.i.tion's a good thing all round--checks abnormal fluctuations of the market, you know."

"Father, I'm the happiest man on earth."

"Your respected mother-in-law, I've had the pleasure of meeting her before...."

"Have you, though?"

"Yes--abroad. It's many years ago now," put in Mrs. Rantzau hastily.

"And now, William, you'd better go off and fetch Betty, I think,"

said Holm. "And we'll have a little party this evening. I hope you will come too!"

"Thank you so much, Mr. Holm; I hope I can. But I must just speak to Alfred first."

"Alfred?"

"My fiance, Banker Hermansen."

"Oh yes, yes, of course. I really didn't know he had a Christian name--he's always been just Banker Hermansen."

Holm came down into the shop, muttering to himself, "Alfred--Alfred...." until he had to go into his inner office where he could laugh un.o.bserved. Of all the extraordinary things....

He thought of Bianca in the old days, and called to mind the "Carnival of Venice," the little supper at Pfortes--and in the midst of it all loomed the stiff, upright figure and solemn, clean-shaven face of Banker Hermansen.

He had never dreamed of such a marvel, still less expected to meet with it as a reality.

That same afternoon came a card from Hermansen: would be glad if Mr.

Holm could find time to come round some time during the day--a private matter. "And if you would not mind coming in by the side door, you will find me alone in the office."

Holm had once before been invited to call upon the banker "privately"--in 1879, when he had been called upon to show his balance-sheet.

The mere thought of it gave him cold shivers even now. A devilish business! And the nasty mean way all his valuations were cut down....

He went in by the side entrance, and noticed how empty and deserted the place looked. The long counter and all the green-covered desks stood as if yawning wearily in the afternoon sun. It was almost uncanny to find everything so quiet.

The banker did not seem to notice his entry at first, but sat intent upon some papers at the big oak table.

"Good afternoon, Banker!"

"Ah, there you are! Forgive my troubling you to come round, Mr. Holm, but...."

He broke off, uncertain how to proceed. The two ancient antagonists exchanged glances.

For the first time in his life Holm felt himself master of the situation towards Hermansen; this time it was the banker himself who had to show his balance.

"Well, Mr. Holm, I dare say you have heard...."

But Holm ignored the opening. "No, no, my friend," he thought to himself, "you can play your miserable hand alone, _I'm_ not going to help you out."

"I have committed the indiscretion of--er--becoming engaged," said the banker, with a faint smile.

"Hearty congratulations, my dear Banker," said Holm, offering his hand.

There was a pause, the banker evidently waiting for Holm, with his customary fluency, to break the ice. Here, however, he was disappointed; Holm merely set his teeth and fell to polishing his silk hat on one sleeve. The banker tried again.

"Mrs. Rantzau, my fiancee, has informed me that we shall be--er--in a sort of way related." He smiled invitingly, and thought: he must come round after that.

Holm was a little in doubt how best to proceed now; he was not averse to prolonging the other's awkwardness.

"Highly honoured, I'm sure. Yes, my son has been so fortunate as to gain the hand of--er--your fiancee's daughter. A charming young lady, charming. Takes after her mother." He checked himself; he had said more than he wished.

A long pause.

The banker shifted some books on the table, then suddenly he slipped up to Holm, laid one hand on his shoulder and said:

"We haven't always got on as well as we might together, Holm; circ.u.mstances have sometimes been against our friendly co-operation; but don't you think, now, we might forget all that and try to start on a more friendly footing? We're both old enough now to be glad of peace and amity, and our new relations ought to bring us closer together--what do you say?"

Holm was quite taken aback; he had never seen the banker in this mood before; the man was positively getting sentimental. He had unb.u.t.toned his coat, and his voice was quite gentle.

"It shan't be my fault if we don't, Hermansen. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. Time cures all sorrows--patches up a doubtful balance-sheet, as you might say----"

"My dear Holm, pray don't mention it."

"Well, well, it might have been worse--as the auditor said. You're in luck's way, though, Hermansen. I've had the honour of some slight acquaintance with your fiancee in former days."

"No, really! Where did you meet her?"

"Oh, it was some years ago--we met at the house of some mutual friends--abroad. A n.o.ble woman, Hermansen, a woman of splendid character."

"One might almost think you'd been my compet.i.tor there, Holm, what?"

said the banker, with a laugh.

"Why, I won't say but I might have been inclined.... But the lady--er--showed better taste, worse luck," answered Holm, with a bow.

"Thanks for the compliment! You're quite a diplomatist, Holm--I haven't seen you in that role before."

Holm put his head on one side and looked at the banker with a quizzical expression.

"Haven't you--though? Not in the little matter of the Spanish frigate?"