"
"Pray drop your nautical metaphors, and tell me what you mean," cries
F. B.'s companion, and Bayham continued his narration.
"Were you in the least conversant with City affairs," he said, "or did
you deign to visit the spot where merchants mostly congregate, you would
have heard the story, which was over the whole City yesterday, and spread
dismay from Threadneedle Street to Leadenhall. The story is, that the
firm of Hobson Brothers and Newcome, yesterday refused acceptance of
thirty thousand pounds' worth of bills of the Bundelcund Banking Company
of India.
"The news came like a thunderclap upon the London Board of Directors, who
had received no notice of the intentions of Hobson Brothers, and caused a
dreadful panic amongst the shareholders of the concern. The board-room
was besieged by colonels and captains, widows and orphans; within an hour
after protest of bills were taken up, and you will see, in the City
article of the Globe this very evening, an announcement that henceforward
the house of Baines and Jolly, of Job Court, will meet engagements of the
Bundelcund Banking Company of India, being provided with ample funds to
do honour to every possible liability of that Company.
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