CASH & CREDIT 35

Once again he was summoned to the great marble and glass halls of Finsbury Square. In the reception area of the Director-General’s office he waited patiently, familiar with such routines.

“Ah, there you are!” beamed the Director- General, stepping grandly from his office with a weak handshake, “Come on in!”.

The Chief shifted uneasily in his chair, not particularly comfortable with the pomp and ceremony that seemed to him to have no real practical purpose other than to pamper the occupants of such offices.

Smiling a Cheshire cat smile, Farquhar-Brown professed an amiable stance.

“Well well, I think we can say that it was a task carried out with distinction”.

He waited in vain for the Chief to say something, a comment perhaps, but the Chief remained quiet. He felt he knew what was coming, he had been here before.

Farquhar-Brown pretended not to notice the Chief’s indifference to his charm.