The Four Swans Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ross asked her.
    `No. I have never met Morwenna, and I did not ever very much care for Osborne.’
    ‘At one time he appeared to have a distinct taking for you.’
    `Oh, that,’ said Demelza, wrinkling her nose.
    ‘I spoke with Morwenna,’ Ross said. `She’s a shy creature and answers yes and no as if she thinks that makes a conversation. It was hard to tell whether she finds herself unhappy.’
    `Unhappy?’ said Harris Pascoe. ‘In a four-month bride? Would you expect it?’
    Ross said: `My brother-in-law, Demelza’s brother,’ had a brief and abortive love attachment for Morwenna Whitworth before she married. Drake is still in deep depression over it and we are trying to find some sort of life for him that he will accept. Therefore it is of interest to know whether his loved one has settled comfortably into a marriage Drake says she bitterly opposed.’
    `I only know,’ said Pascoe, `that for a cleric he spends f-far too much on this world’s attire. I don’t attend his church but I understand he is careful about his duties. That at least makes a welcome change.’
    After Demelza had gone to bed Ross said:
    ‘And your own affairs, Harris? They prosper?’
    `Thank you, yes. The bank is well enough. Money is still cheap, credit is readily available, new enterprises are growing; up everywhere. In the meantime we keep a careful watch on our note issue
    and lose trade thereby – but as you are aware I am a cautious man and know that fine weather does not last for ever.’
    Ross said : `You know I am taking a quarter interest in Ralph
    Allen Daniell’s new tin smelting house?’
    `You mentioned it in your letter. A little more port?’ `Thank you.’
    Pascoe poured, into each glass, careful not to create bubbles. He held the decanter a moment between his hands.
    ‘Daniell is a good man of business. It should be a useful investment - Where is it to be built?’
    `A couple of miles out of Truro, on the Falmouth road. It. will have ten reverbatory furnaces, each about six feet high by four broad and will employ a fair number of men.’
    ‘Daniell cannot have w-wanted for the money himself.’
    `No. But he has little knowledge of mining and offered me a share and a say in the design and management.’
    ‘Good. Good.’
    `And he does not bank with the Warleggans.’
    Harris laughed, and they finished their port and talked of other things.
    `Speaking of the Warleggans,’ Pascoe said presently. `Something of an accommodation has been reached between their bank and Basset, Rogers and Co., which will add to the strength of both. It is not of course anything like an amalgamation, but there will be a friendly co-ordination, and that could be of some disadvantage to Pascoe, Tresize. Annery acid Spry.’
    `In what way?’
    `Well, their capital strength will be five or six times ours. It is always a disadvantage to be much smaller than one’s competitors, especially in times of stress. In banking size has a curious magic for the depositor. It’s some years now, as you know, since I took my three partners, because of the danger of being overshadowed by the other banks. Now we are a 1-little overshadowed again.’
    `You have no one to call in to redress the balance?’
    `Not in the neighbourhood. Outside, of course but the distances are tool great between here and, say, Helston or Falmouth for the easy or safe transport of gold or notes.’ Pascoe got up. `Oh, we shall stay as we are, and come to no hurt, I am sure. While the wind blows fair there, is indeed nothing to hurt anyone.’
     
    II
     
    In another part of the town Elizabeth was combing her hair at her dressing table and George, sitting by the fire in a long lawn robe, was as usual watching her. But now, in this last week or so, since that talk, there seemed to be some easing of the nature of the surveillance. The screws were off. It was as if he had been through some nervous crisis, the character of which she barely dared to guess, and had now emerged from it.
    `Did