ought to
have seen him this morning."

The old gentleman chuckled. He perceived that his young friend had
changed the subject of conversation; but he also agreed that business
should come before gossip.

It was but a brief walk from the Club to the Kangaroo Bank.

"You're a god-send to this town, Jack; a perfect god-send. Do you know
that since you discovered this gold, sir, my properties in Timber Town
have increased twenty-five per cent. in value? And do you know that I
believe they will increase cent. per cent.? Imagine it, sir. Why, we
shall all be rich men."

They passed out into the bright street, where the gaily-painted
shops shone in the blazing sun and the iron roofs of the verandahs
ticked with the midday heat. The door of the Bank stood open, that
the outer air might circulate freely through the big building. The
immaculately-attired clerk stood behind his counter, with a big piece of
plaster on his forehead; but Scarlett, taking no notice of the scowl he
received from the dark-featured Zahn, knocked at the door of the
Manager's room.

Within the financial _sanctum_, a little shrivelled-up man sat at a
large table which was placed in the middle of the room. His face was
clean-shaven but for a pair of grizzled mutton-chop whiskers, and as he
bent over his papers he showed a little bald patch on the top of his
crown.

Scarlett and Mr. Crewe stood side by side, in front of him.

"I have come from the diggings," said Jack, "and have called to ask
..."

"Oh ... How do you do, Mr. Crewe? Be seated, sir.... Be seated, both of
you.... A lovely day, Mr. Crewe; a perfectly beautiful day. Take a seat,
sir, I beg."

But as the chairs stood a long way off against the wall, old Mr. Crewe
and Jack only glanced at them.

"I've come to ask," continued Scarlett, "that you will establish a
branch of your Bank on Bush Robin Creek."

The Manager looked first at Scarlett and then at Mr. Crewe. "You're very
good," he said. "Establish a branch on the diggings? Gentlemen, _do_ be
seated." So saying, he journeyed to a far wall, and returned with a
couple of chairs, which he dragged after him to where his visitors
stood.

"It would be a great convenience to the diggers," said Jack, "to sell
their gold on the field, and receive drafts on your Bank. Then, they
would travel with more safety and less fear of being robbed."

"It's worth thinking of," said the Manager, when he had seen that both
Scarlett and Mr. Crewe were