A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett Read Free Book Online

straightforward, provided you can give a couple of sound business references.”
    “References? Why?”
    “Well, a bank always takes the risk that the buyer will renege on the deal, leaving them with a cargo of unwanted merchandise on the far side of the globe. They just need some assurance that they’re dealing with a respectable businessman.”
    What Edward did not realize was that the concept of a respectable businessman did not yet exist in South America. Papa was a caudillo, a provincial landowner with a hundred thousand acres of pampas and a work force of cowboys that doubled as his private army. Hewielded power in a way the British had not known since the Middle Ages. It was like asking William the Conqueror for references.
    Micky pretended to be unperturbed. “No doubt we can provide something,” he said. In fact he was stumped. But if he was going to stay in London he had to bring this deal off.
    They turned and strolled back toward the crowded terrace, Micky hiding his anxiety. Papa did not yet understand that they had encountered a serious difficulty, but Micky would have to explain it later—and then there would be trouble. Papa had no patience with failure, and his anger was terrifying.
    Augusta appeared on the terrace and spoke to Edward. “Find Hastead for me, Teddy darling,” she said. Hastead was her obsequious Welsh butler. “There’s no cordial left and the wretched man has disappeared.” Edward went off. She favored Papa with a warm, intimate smile. “Are you enjoying our little gathering, Señor Miranda?”
    “Very well, thank you,” said Papa.
    “You must have some tea, or a glass of cordial.”
    Papa would have preferred tequila, Micky knew, but hard alcohol was not served at Methodist tea parties.
    Augusta looked at Micky. Always quick to sense other people’s moods, she said: “I can see that you’re not enjoying the party. What’s the matter?”
    He did not hesitate to confide in her. “I was hoping Papa could help Edward by bringing new business to the bank, but it involves guns and ammunition, and Edward has just explained that Uncle Seth won’t finance weapons.”
    “Seth won’t be Senior Partner much longer,” Augusta said.
    “Apparently Samuel feels the same as his father.”
    “Does he?” Augusta said, and her tone was arch.“And who says that Samuel is to be the next Senior Partner?”
    2
    HUGH PILASTER WAS WEARING a new sky-blue ascot-style cravat, slightly puffed at the neckline and held in place with a pin. He really should have been wearing a new coat, but he earned only 68 pounds a year, so he had to brighten up his old clothes with a new tie. The ascot was the latest fashion, and sky-blue was a daring color choice; but when he spied his reflection in the huge mirror over the mantelpiece in Aunt Augusta’s drawing room he saw that the blue tie and black suit looked rather fetching with his blue eyes and black hair, and he hoped the ascot gave him an attractively rakish air. Perhaps Florence Stalworthy would think so, anyway. He had started to take an interest in clothes since he met her.
    It was a bit embarrassing, living with Augusta and being so poor; but there was a tradition at Pilasters Bank that men were paid what they were worth, regardless of whether they were family members. Another tradition was that everyone started at the bottom. Hugh had been a star pupil at school, and would have been head boy if he had not got into trouble so much; but his education counted for little at the bank, and he was doing the work of an apprentice clerk—and was paid accordingly. His aunt and uncle never offered to help him out financially, so they had to put up with his looking a little shabby.
    He did not much care what they thought about his appearance, of course. It was Florence Stalworthy he was worried about. She was a pale, pretty girl, the daughter of the earl of Stalworthy; but the most important thing about her was that she was interested in Hugh Pilaster. The