as a most intelligent man of business still
stood; the credit of his house was deservedly high, and people banked
with him, and traded with him, in spite of faithless wives and hostile
colonels.

When the outbreak between Colonel Newcome and his nephew took place, it
may be remembered that Mr. Hobson Newcome, the other partner of the firm
of Hobson Brothers, waited upon Colonel Newcome, as one of the principal
English directors of the B. B. C., and hoped that although private
differences would, of course, oblige Thomas Newcome to cease all
personal dealings with the bank of Hobson, the affairs of the Company
in which he was interested ought not to suffer on this account; and that
the Indian firm should continue dealing with Hobsons on the same footing
as before. Mr. Hobson Newcome represented to the Colonel, in his jolly
frank way, that whatever happened between the latter and his nephew
Barnes, Thomas Newcome had still one friend in the house; that
the transactions between it and the Indian Company were mutually
advantageous; finally, that the manager of the Indian bank might
continue to do business with Hobsons as before. So the B. B. C. sent
its consignments to Hobson Brothers, and drew its bills, which were duly
honoured by that firm.

More than one of Colonel Newcome's City acquaintances, among them his
agent, Mr. Jolly, and his ingenuous friend, Mr. Sherrick, especially,
hinted to Thomas Newcome to be very cautious in his dealings with Hobson
Brothers, and keep a special care lest that house should play him an
evil turn. They both told him that Barnes Newcome had said more than
once, in answer to reports of the Colonel's own speeches against Barnes.
"I know that hot-headed, blundering Indian uncle of mine is furious
against me, on account of an absurd private affair and misunderstanding,
which he is too obstinate to see in the proper light. What is my return
for the abuse and rant which he lavishes against me? I cannot forget
that he is my grandfather's son, an old man, utterly ignorant both
of society and business here; and as he is interested in this Indian
Banking Company, which must be preciously conducted when it appointed
him as the guardian and overseer of its affairs in England, I do my
very best to serve the Company, and I can tell you, its blundering,
muddleheaded managers, black and white, owe no little to the assistance
which they have had from our house. If they don't like us, why do they
go on deal