Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/281

 "Why; we drifted into the hands of a soulless capitalist, namely, Earl Stranleigh of Wychwood."

"Ah, I see. I had forgotten."

"About the time you left for America there was floated a bank under the title of the 'Surrey and Southern Counties,' founded by a brainless fool named Mackeller, who knows as much about banking as does my foot."

"You underestimate yourself, Corbitt. Your capable foot must be rather efficient."

"It will be, when it wafts Peter Mackeller into oblivion."

"What has he done to you?"

"He has lured away most of our customers."

"Really? What did you do?"

"I made no effort to check his raid, but as speedily as possible replaced the dunderheads he took away by shrewd, alert business men, who have long wished to deal with Selwyn's Bank, because of its good name and respectability, and now, by the gods! we're making money."

"Ah, through the usual method of taking big risks?"

"Not so. I'm taking less risk to-day than ever I did. I know the intrinsic value of the chief securities in the market, so, by lending conservatively