"But where am I to present these cheques?" inquired Peter.
"Oh!" said the Manager, "there will be no difficulty whatever about that. Any clock will cash it for you--provided, of course, that it hasn't stopped. You merely have to slip your cheque underneath or behind it, and you will at once be paid whatever amount of time the cheque is drawn for. I can show you one of our forms if you like?"
Here he brought out a bulky leather case, from which he extracted a printed document, which he handed to Peter.
Peter, however, being naturally cautious, felt a hesitation which he scarcely liked to confess.
"You see," he said, "the fact is, I should like to know first ... I've never been engaged in a--a transaction of this kind before; and, well--what I mean is, do I incur any risk of--er--a supernatural character?... It isn't like that business of Faust's, eh, don't you know?"
The Manager took back the paper with an abruptness which showed that his temper was ruffled by this suspicion.
"My good sir!" he said, with a short offended laugh, "don't, on any account, imagine that _I_ care two pins whether you become a depositor or not. I daresay our house will continue to exist without your account. As for liability, ours is a limited concern; and, besides, a deposit would not constitute you a shareholder. If you meant anything more--well, I have still to learn that there's anything diabolical about _me_, sir! I simply thought I was doing you a good turn by making the suggestion; and, besides, as a business man, I never neglect any opportunity, however small. But it's entirely as you please, I'm sure."
There was nothing in the least demoniacal, even in his annoyance, and Peter was moved to contrition and apology.
"I--I really beg your pardon!" he said. "I do hope I haven't offended you; and, if you will allow me, I shall consider it a personal favour to be allowed to open an account with your bank. It would certainty be a great convenience to draw some of this superfluous time at some future day, instead of wasting it now. Where do I sign the form?"
The Manager was appeased; and produced the form once more, indicating the place for the signature, and even providing a stylograph-pen for the purpose. It was still somewhat of a relief to Peter's mind to find that the ink it contained was of the ordinary black hue.