Джеффри Арчер - This Was a Man

‘But when I read his most recent end-of-term report, I even wondered if he might win a scholarship.’

‘So did the headmaster,’ said Archie, ‘which is why he called for his papers. It quickly became clear he’d made no effort to pass.’

‘But why? Fettes is one of the best schools in Scotland.’

‘In Scotland may be the answer to your question,’ said Archie, ‘because he sat a similar exam for Westminster a week later, and came out in the top half dozen.’

‘I don’t think we need to call on the assistance of Freud to fathom that one out,’ said Giles. ‘So all I need to know is whether he wants to be a day boy or a boarder.’

‘He put a cross in the box marked day boy.’

‘It’s a long way for him to commute to Fenwick Hall and back every day, and as Westminster is a stone’s throw from our front door, I think he might have been trying to tell us something.’ Archie nodded. ‘In any case, he’s already selected his bedroom,’ Giles added as the phone on his desk began to ring.

He grabbed it and listened for a moment before he said, ‘Sorry, chief, something came up, but I’ll be with you in a moment.’ He put the phone down and said, ‘Why don’t you join Karin and me for dinner in Smith Square this evening, and we can thrash out the details.’

‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ said Archie.

‘It’s me who should be thanking you.’ Giles stood up and headed for the door. ‘It’s the only piece of good news I’ve had all day. I’ll see you around eight.’

‘Any hope of discussing the government’s proposed grain subsidy at some time?’ Archie asked, but Giles didn’t reply as he quickly left the office.

‘What’s Cunard’s spot price this morning?’ asked Seb.

‘Four pounds twelve. Up two pence on yesterday,’ replied John Ashley.

‘That’s good news all round.’

‘Do you think your mother ever regrets selling Barrington’s?’

‘Daily. But luckily she’s so overworked at the Department of Health that she doesn’t have much time to think about it.’

‘And Giles?’

‘I know he’s extremely grateful for the way you’ve handled the family portfolio, because it allows him to pursue his first love.’

‘Battling against your mother?’

‘Something like that.’

‘What about your aunt Grace?’

‘She thinks you’re a vulgar capitalist, or at least that’s how she describes me, so I can’t believe she’d consider you any better.’

‘But I’ve made her a multi-millionaire,’ protested Ashley.

‘Indeed you have, but that won’t stop her marking her pupils’ homework tonight while nibbling on a cheese sandwich. But on her behalf, John, well done. Is there anything else we need to discuss?’

‘Yes, I’m sorry to say there is, chairman, and I’m not quite sure how to handle it.’ Ashley opened a file marked private and shuffled through some papers. Seb was surprised to see that a man who’d played front row for the Harlequins, and never hesitated to face any member of the board head on, was now clearly embarrassed.

‘Spit it out, John.’

‘A Miss Candice Lombardo has recently opened an account with the bank, and her guarantor is the deputy chairman.’

‘So that’s her name,’ said Seb.

‘You know her?’

‘Let’s just say I’ve come across her. So what’s the problem?’

‘She withdrew five thousand pounds yesterday, without having a penny in her account, to purchase a mink coat from Harrods.’

‘Why did you clear the cheque?’

‘Because Victor has guaranteed her overdraft and I don’t have the authority to put a stop on it without consulting him.’

‘Cedric Hardcastle will be turning in his grave,’ said Seb, looking up at the portrait of the bank’s founding chairman. ‘He used to be fond of saying never say never, unless you’re asked to sign a personal guarantee.’

‘Should I have a word with Victor?’

Seb leant back and thought about the suggestion for a few moments. Hakim had managed to convince Victor to remain on the board, and even take up the post of deputy chairman, so the last thing Seb needed was to give him any reason to change his mind.

‘Do nothing,’ he eventually said. ‘But keep me briefed if Miss Lombardo presents any more cheques.’

Ashley nodded, but didn’t make a note in his file.

‘I thought you’d also want to know,’ he continued, ‘that your daughter’s account is overdrawn by £104.60. Not a large amount, I know, but you did ask me to brief you, following—’

‘I did indeed,’ said Seb. ‘But to be fair, John, I’ve just paid her a thousand pounds for seven of her drawings.’

Ashley opened a second file and checked another bank statement. ‘She hasn’t presented that cheque, chairman. In fact, her only recent deposit was for two hundred and fifty pounds from a Richard Langley.’

‘The name doesn’t mean anything to me,’ said Seb. ‘But keep me informed.’ Ashley frowned. ‘What does that look mean?’

‘Just that on balance, I’d prefer to deal with the chairman of Cunard than your daughter.’

The four of them sat in the drawing room looking distinctly uncomfortable.

‘It’s so nice to meet you at last,’ said Samantha, pouring Richard a cup of tea.

‘You too, Mrs Clifton,’ said the young man who sat nervously opposite her.

‘How did you two meet?’ asked Seb.

‘We bumped into each other at the Slade Founder’s Prize exhibition,’ said Jessica.

‘I go to all the college art shows,’ said Richard, ‘in the hope of spotting a new talent before they’re snapped up by a West End dealer, when I’ll no longer be able to afford them.’

‘How very sensible,’ said Samantha, as she offered her guest a cucumber sandwich.

‘Picked up anything worthwhile recently?’ asked Sebastian.

‘A coup,’ said Richard, ‘a veritable coup. A set of remarkable line drawings by an unknown artist, entitled The Seven Ages of Woman , that won the Founder’s Prize. I couldn’t believe my luck when I heard the price.’

‘Forgive me for mentioning it,’ said Seb, ‘but I’m surprised you can afford a thousand pounds on a teacher’s salary.’

‘I didn’t pay a thousand pounds, sir, just two hundred and fifty. And I only just had enough left in my account to take the artist out to supper.’

‘But I thought—’ Seb didn’t complete the sentence when he noticed Samantha glaring at him and his daughter looking embarrassed. He decided to change tack. ‘I’d be willing to offer you a couple of thousand for those drawings. Then you can take the artist out for supper regularly.’

‘They’re not for sale,’ said Richard, ‘and they never will be.’

‘Three thousand?’

‘No, thank you, sir.’

‘Perhaps you’d consider a deal, Richard. If you were ever to give up my daughter, you’d sell the drawings back to me for two thousand pounds.’

‘Sebastian!’ said Samantha sharply. ‘Richard is Jessica’s friend, not a client, and in any case it’s outside banking hours.’

‘Not a hope, sir,’ said Richard. ‘I don’t intend to part with either your daughter or the drawings.’

‘You can’t win them all, Pops,’ said Jessica with a grin.

‘But if Jessie were to give you up,’ said Seb, as if he was chasing a million-pound deal, ‘would you reconsider then?’

‘Forget it, Pops. That’s not going to happen. You’ve lost the drawings, and you’re about to lose your daughter, because I’m planning to move in with Richard,’ she said, taking his hand.

Sebastian was about to suggest that perhaps... when Samantha jumped in.

‘That’s wonderful news. Where will you be living?’