Joseph, somewhat mollified, said: “I don’t mind submitting to the decision of the market.”
“There is one other option we might consider,” Samuel went on. “We could get another bank to come in with us on the issue of bonds, and float it jointly. That way, any hostile publicity would be enfeebled by having a divided target.”
That made a lot of sense, Hugh thought. It was not what he would have done: he would prefer to cancel the bond issue. But the strategy worked out by Samuel would minimize the risk, and that was what banking was all about. Samuel was a much better banker than Joseph.
“All right,” Joseph said with his usual impulsiveness. “Edward, see if you can find us a partner.”
“Who should I approach?” Edward said anxiously. Hugh realized he had no idea how to go about something like this.
Samuel answered him. “It’s a big issue. On reflection, not many banks would want such a big exposure to South America. You should go to Greenbournes: they might be the only people big enough to take the risk. You know Solly Greenbourne, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll see him.”
Hugh wondered whether he should advise Solly to turn Edward down, and immediately thought better of it: he was being hired as an expert on North America, and it would seem presumptuous if he started out by passing judgment on a completely different area. He decided to have one more try at persuading Uncle Joseph to cancel the issue completely. “Why don’t we just wash our hands of the Santamaria railroad?” he said. “It’s low-grade business. The risk has always been high, and now we’re threatened with bad publicity on top. Do we need this?”
Edward said petulantly: “The partners have made their decision and it’s not for you to question them.”
Hugh gave up. “You’re quite right,” he said. “I’m not a partner, and soon I won’t be an employee either.”
Uncle Joseph frowned at him. “What does that mean?”
“I’m resigning from the bank.”
Joseph was jolted. “You can’t do that!”
“I certainly can. I’m a mere employee, and you’ve treated me as such. So, like an employee, I’m leaving you for a better job elsewhere.”
“Where?”
“As a matter of fact I shall be working at Greenbournes.”
Uncle Joseph’s eyes looked as if they would pop out. “But you’re the one who knows all the North Americans!”
“I imagine that’s why Ben Greenbourne was so keen to hire me,” Hugh said. He could not help being pleased that Uncle Joseph was so irate.
“But you’ll take business away from us!”
“You should have thought of that when you decided to go back on your offer of a partnership.”
“How much are they paying you?”
Hugh stood up to leave. “That’s not for you to ask,” he said firmly.
Edward shrieked: “How dare you speak to my father that way!”
Joseph’s indignation burst like a bubble, and to Hugh’s surprise he suddenly calmed down. “Oh, shut up, Edward,” he said mildly. “A certain amount of low cunning is part of what goes to make a good banker. There are times when I wish you were more like Hugh. He may be the black sheep of the family but at least he’s got some spunk.” He turned back to Hugh. “Go on, clear off,” he said without malice. “I hope you’ll come a cropper, but I’m not betting on it.”
“No doubt that’s the nearest to good wishes that I’m likely to get from your branch of the family,” Hugh said. “Good day to you.”
“AND HOW IS dear Rachel?” Augusta asked Micky as she poured tea.
“She’s fine,” Micky said. “She may come along later.”
In fact he did not quite understand his wife. She had been a virgin when they married, but she acted like a whore. She submitted to him at any time, anywhere, and always with enthusiasm. One of the first things he had tried was tying her to the bedhead, to re-create the vision he had enjoyed when he first became attracted to her; and somewhat to his disappointment she had complied willingly. So far nothing he was able to do had succeeded in making her resist him. He had even taken her in the drawing room, where there was a constant risk that the servants would see; and she had seemed to enjoy it more than ever.
On the other hand, she was the opposite of submissive in every other area of life. She argued with him about the house, the servants, money, politics and religion. When he got fed up with contradicting her he tried ignoring her, then insulting her, but nothing made any difference. She suffered from the delusion that she had as much right to her point of view as a man.
“I hope she’s a help to you in your work,” Augusta said.
Micky nodded. “She’s a good hostess at ministry functions,” he said. “Attentive and gracious.”
“I thought she did very well at the party you gave for Ambassador Portillo,” Augusta said. Portillo was the Portuguese envoy and Augusta and Joseph had attended the dinner.
“She has a stupid plan to open a maternity hospital for women without husbands,” Micky said, allowing his irritation to show.
Augusta shook her head in disapproval. “It’s impossible for a woman in her position in society. Besides, there are already one or two such hospitals.”
“She says they’re all religious institutions that tell women how wicked they are. Her place will help without preaching.”
“Worse and worse,” Augusta said. “Think what the press would say about that!”
“Exactly. I’ve been very firm with her about it.”
“She’s a lucky girl,” Augusta said, and favored Micky with an intimate smile.
He realized that she was flirting and he was failing to respond. The truth was that he was too involved with Rachel. He certainly did not love her, but he was deeply engrossed by his relationship with her and she absorbed all his sexual energy. To compensate for his distraction he held Augusta’s hand for a moment as she passed him a cup of tea. “You’re flattering me,” he said softly.
“No doubt I am. But something is worrying you, I can tell.”
“Dear Mrs. Pilaster, as perceptive as always. Why do I ever imagine I can hide anything from you?” He released her hand and took his tea. “Yes, I’m a little tense about the Santamaria railroad.”
“I thought the partners had agreed to that.”
“They have, but these things take so long to organize.”
“The financial world moves slowly.”
“I understand that, but my family doesn’t. Papa sends me cables weekly. I curse the day the telegraph reached Santamaria.”
Edward came in bursting with news. “Antonio Silva’s back!” he said before he had closed the door behind him.
Augusta paled. “How do you know?”
“Hugh saw him.”
“That’s a blow,” she said, and Micky was surprised to see that her hand was shaking as she put down her cup and saucer.