Year: 1859

MI SCELLAN Y.
the English Banker and Forser.


BY CHARLES DICKENS


The bottles went round-claret for the degen-
crate Youngsters; port for the sterling, steady
headed middle-aged gentlemen. Mr.. Tow
bridge slipped his wine-meditated little-sip-
ned again-and started with the promised anec-
note, in these terms:


What am going to tell you, gentlemen, hap
/ was Just setting up in business on my own ac
count. My father had been we'll acquainted for
MANY wears with Mr.. Fauntleroy, of the famous
London banking firm of Marsh, Stracey, Faunt:
leroy g. Graham. Thinking it might be of some
future service to me to make my position known
to q great man in the commercial world my
father mentioned to his highly respected friend
that was about to start in BUSINESS for my
self in very small way, and with very little
money. Mr.. Fauntleroy received the intima-
lion with a kind appearance of interest; and said
he would have his eye on me. expected from
this that he would wait to see if l could keep
my legs at starting; and that, if he found sue
ceeded pretty we'll he would then help me for,
ward if it lay in his power. As events turned
10.
that and he soon showed me that had very
much underrated the hearty and generous inter-
est which he had felt in my welfare from tie
first.


While was still fighting with the first diff
entities of setting up my Office, and recommend
ine myself to my connection, and so forth, got
q message from Mr.. Fauntleroy, telling me to
call on him. at the banking house, the first time
was passing that way. AS you may easily
imagine, contriyed to be passing that way on
a particularly early occasion and, on presenting
myself at the bank, was shown at once into MIR.
Fauntleroy's private room.


He was as pleasant o man to speak to as ever
I met With bright and gay and companionable
in bis manner-with sort of easy, hearty, jo'
vial bluntnesss about him that attracted every.
body. The clerks all liked him-and that is
something to say of partner in clearinghouse
can tell youl


"Wen, young Trowbridge," says he, giving his
papers on the table brisk push away from him
$50 you ore going to set up in business for your.
self. are you2 l have great regard tor your
father, and great wish to see you succeed
Have You started yet9--No2 Just on the point
of beginniug-eh2 Very good. Yon will have
your difficulties, my fl iend--and mean te
smooth one of them away for you on the outset


A word Of advice for your private ear-Bank
with u.s."


"You are very kind, sir" answered, "and
should ask nothing better than to profit by your
suggestion, ifT could. But when my expenses are
all paid. am afraid shall have very little left
TO put by for the first year. | doubt if shal
be able to muster much more then three hum
dred pounds of surplus cash in the world alter
paving what must pay, before setting up my
Office. And | should be ashamed to trouble
YOUR house, sir, to open an account tor such 6
irihe as that"


aStuff and nonsense!" says Mr. Faunteroy.-
"Are you banker2 What business have you
to offer an opinion on the matter2 Do as tel
you-leave it to me-bank with us-and draw
for what you like. Stop! | haven't done yet
When you open the account, speak to the head
cashier. Perhaps you may find he has got
something to tell you. There there go away
don't interrupt e-good-bYe--God bless
you"


That was his way-Ah, poor fellow that was
his way!


| went to the head cashier the next morning
when l opened my little modicum of an account
He had received orders to pay my drafts with
out reference to my balance. My cheques, wher
had overdrawn, were to be privately shown
to Mr.. Fauntleroy. Do many young men who
start in business find their prosperous superiors
ready to help them in that waya


Well, got on-got on very fairly aud steadi-
ly: being careful not to venture out of my depth
and not to forget that small beginnings may lead
in time to great ends. a prospect of one Of
those great ends-great, 1mean, to such small
trader as was at that period-showed itself to
me, when had been some little time in bus-
ness. In plain terms, had chance of joining
in first rate transaction, which would give me
profit and position and everything wanted, pro.
vided could qualify myself for engaging in it by
getting good security beforehand for very large
amount.


In this emergency / thought of my kind
friend Mr.. Fauntleroy. Invent to the bank, and
saw him once more in his private room.


There he was at the same table, with the
same hearty, easy way of speaking his mind to
you at once, in the fewest possible words. lex
planned the business | came upon, with some lit
Tie hesitation ana nervousness; for was afraid
he might think was taking an unfair advant.
age of his former kindness to me- When had
done he just nodded his head, snatched up q
blank sheet OF paper, scribbled few lines on it,
in his rapid way, handed the writing to me, and
puouSe hi0 Nee VI lhO tOOlil Wy LuS INO SllOulu-
ers before could say single word. 1 looked
at the paper in the outer office. 1t was my Sc
curity from that great banking house for the
whole amount and for more, if more was want
ed.


could not express my gratitude then and
don't know that can describe it now. / can
only say that it has outlived the crime, the dis
grace, and the awful death Ion the soaffold.
am grieved to speak of that death at all. But
have no other alternative. The course of my
story must now lead me straight on to the latter
time, and to the terrible discovery which expos
ed my benefactor and my friend to all England
as the forger Fauntleroy.


must ask you to suppose lapse of some
time after the occurrence of the events that
have just been relating. During this interval,
thanks to the kind assistance had received at
the outset, my position as man of business had
greatly improved. Imagine me now, if you
please on the high road to prosperity, with good
large offices and respectable staff of clerks;
and picture me to yourselves sitting alone in nv