Is it possible for me to get it?'
'Have you your cablegram?'
'No, I have not.'
'Well, you know, we cannot pay the money until we see your cablegram. If
time is of importance, you should not leave the telegraph-office, and the
moment you get your message, come here; then there will be no delay
whatever. Do you wish to draw all the money at once?'
'I don't know how much there is, but I must have twenty thousand pounds.'
'Very well, to save time you had better make out a cheque for twenty
thousand pounds; that will be----'
And here he gave the number of dollars at the rate of the day on the
pound. 'Just make out a cheque for that amount, and I will certify it. A
certified cheque is as good as gold. The moment you get your message I
will hand you the certified cheque.'
John wrote out the order and gave it to the cashier, glancing at the
clock as he did so. It was now twenty-five minutes to twelve. He rushed
to the telegraph-office with all the speed of which he was capable, but
met only a blank look again from the chief operator.
'It has not come yet,' he said, shaking his head.
Gradually despair began to descend on the waiting man. It was worse to
miss everything now, than never to have had the hope of success. It was
like hanging a man who had once been reprieved. He resumed his nervous
pace up and down that chamber of torture. A quarter to twelve. He heard
chimes ring somewhere. If the message did not come before they rang
again, it would be for ever too late.
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