第 47 页

'Yes, sir; you'll want the board room!'

Good God, thought William, I can't even remember where it is.

The doorman observed his embarrassment. 'You take the corridor on the left, si4 and then it's the second door on the right!

'Thank you,' said William, and walked as confidently as he could down the corridor. He had always thought the expression a stomach full of butterflies a stupid one until that moment. He felt his heartbeat was louder than the clock in the front hall; he would not have been surprised to hear himself chiming three eclock. Ted Leach was standing alone at the entrance to the board room 'There's going to be trouble,' were his opening words. 'Good,' said William 'Maes the way Charles Lester would have liked it, and he would have faced the trouble head on!

William strode into the impressive oak-panelled room and did not need to count heads to be sure that every director was present. This was not going to be one of those board meetings a director could occasionally afford to skip. The conversation stopped the moment William entered the room, and there was an awkward silence as they all stood around and stared at him. William quickly took the chairman's seat at the head of the long mahogany table before Peter.Parfitt could realise what was happening.

'Gentlemen, please be seated,' said William, hoping his voice sounded fim Ted Leach. and some of the other directors took their seats immediately; others were more reluctant. Murmuring started.

William could see that two directors whom he didn't know were about to rise and interrupt him.

'Before anyone else says anything I would, it you will allow me, like to make an opening statement, and then you can decide how you wish to proceed from there. I feel that is the least we can do to comply with the wishes of the late Charles Lester.'

The two men sat down.

'Thank you, gentlemen. To start with, I would like to make it clear to all those present that I have absolutely no desire to be the chairman of this bank------ William paused for effect--unless it be the wish of the majority of its directors!

Every eye in the room was now fixed on William.

'I am, gentlemen, at present vice-chairman of Kane and Cabot, and I own fifty-one per cent of their stock. Kane and Cabot was founded by my grandfather, and I think it compares favourably in reputation, though not in size, with Lester's. Were I required to leave Boston and move to New York to become the next chairman of Lester's, in compliance with Charles Lester's wishes, I cannot pretend the move would be an easy one for myself or for-my family. However, as it was Charles Lester's wish that I should do just that -and he was not a man to make such a proposition lightly - I am, gentlemen, bound to take his wishes seriously myself. I would also like to add that his son, Matthew Lester, was my closest friend for over fifteen years, and I consider it a tragedy that it is I, and not he, who is addressing you today as your nominated chairman.'

Some of the directors were nodding their approval.

'Gentlemen, if I am fortunate enough to secure your support today, I will sacrifice everything I have in Boston in order to serve you. I hope it is unnecessary for me to give you a detailed account of my banking experience. I shall assume that any director present who has read Charles Lester's will must have taken the trouble to find out why he considered that I was the right man to succeed him My own chairman, Anthony Simmons, whom many of you will know, has asked me to stay on at Kane and Cabot.

'I had intended to inform Mr. Parfitt yesterday of my final decision, had he taken the trouble to call me and seek out that information. I had the pleasure of dining with Mr. and Mrs. Parfitt last Friday evening at their home, and on that occasion Mr. Parfitt informed me that he had no interest in becoming the next chairman of this bank. My only rival, in his opinion, was Mr. Edward Leach, your other vice-chairman. I have since consulted with Mr. Leach himself, and he informs me that I have always had his support for the chair. I assumed, therefore, that both vice-chairmen were backing me. After reading the Wall Street journal this morning, not that I have ever trusted their forecasting since the age of eighe - a little laughter - 11 felt I should attend today's meeting to assure myself that I had not lost the support of the two vice-chairmen, and that the Journal's account was inaccurate. Mr. Leach called this board meeting, and I must ask him at this juncture if he still supports me to succeed Charles Lester as the bank's next chairman!

William looked towards Ted Leach, whose head was bowed. The wait for his verdict was palpable. A thumbsdown from him would mean the Parfittians could eat the Christian.

Ted Leach raised his head slowly and said, 'I support Mr. Kane unreservedly!

William looked directly at Peter Parfitt for the first time that day. He was sweating profusely, and when he spoke, he did not take his eyes off the yellow pad in front of him.

'Well, some members of the board,' he began, 'felt I should throw my hat in the ring...'

'So you have changed your mind about supporting me and complying with Charles Lesters wishes?' interrupted Williarn, allowing a small note of surprise to enter his voice.

Peter Parfitt raised his head a little. 'The problem is not quite that easy, Mr. Kane!

'Yes or no, Mr. Parfitt?

'Yes, I shall stand against you,' said Peter Parfitt suddenly, forcefully.

'Despite telling me last Friday you had no interest in being chairman yourself?'

'I would like to be able to state my own position,' said Parfitt, 'before you assume too much. This is not your board room yet, Mr. Kane!

'Certainly, Mr. Parfitt.'

So far, the meeting had gone exactly as William had planned. His own speech had been carefully prepared and delivered, and Peter Parfitt now laboured under the disadvantage of having lost the initiative, to say nothing of having been publicly called a liar.

'Gentlemen,' he began, as if searching for words. 'Well,' he said.

The eyes had turned their gaze from William and now fixed on Parfitt. It gave William the chance to relax and study the faces of the other directors.

'Several members of the board approached me privately after I had dinner with Mr, Kane, and I felt that it was no more than my duty to consider their wishes and offer myself for election. I have never at any time wanted to oppose the wishes of Mr. Charles Lester, whom I always admired and respected. Naturally, I would have informed Mr. Kane of my intention before tomorrow's scheduled board meeting, but I confess to have been taken somewhat by surprise by today's events!

He drew a deep breath and started again. 'I have served Lester's for twenty-two years, six of them as your vice-chairman. I feel, therefore, that I have the right to be considered for the chair. I would be delighted if Mr. Kane were to join the board, but I now find myself unable to back his appointment as chairman. I hope my fellow-directors will find it possible to support someone who has worked for this bank for over twenty years rather than elect an unknown outsider on the whim of a man distraught by the death of his only som Thank you, gentlemen!

He sat down.

In the circumstances, William was rather impressed by the speech, but Parfitt did not have the benefit of Mr. Cohen's advice on the power of the last word in a close contest. William rose again.

'Gentlemen, Mr. Parfitt has pointed out that I am personally unknown to you. I, therefore, want none of you to be in any doubt as to the type of man I am. I am, as I said, the grandson and the son of bankers. I've been a banker all my life and it would beless than honest of me to pretend I would not be delighted to serve as the next chairman of Lester's. If, on the other hand, after all. you have heard today, you decide to back Mr. Parfitt as chairman, so be it. I shall return to Boston and serve my own bank quite happily I will, moreover, announce publicly that I have no wish to be the chairman of Lester's, and that will insure you against any claims that you have been derelict in fulfilling the provisions of Charles Lester's will. There are, however, no conditions on which I would be willing to serve on your board under Mr. Parfitt. I have no intention of being less than frank with you on that point. I come before you, gentlemen, at the grave disadvantage of being, in Mr. Parfitt's words, "an unknown outsider". I have however, the advantage of being supported by a man who cannot be present today. A man whom all of you respected and admired, a man not known for yielding to whims or making hasty decisions. I therefore suggest this board wastes no more of its valuable time in deciding whom they wish to serve as the next chairman of Lestees. If any of you have any doubts in your mind about my ability to run this bank, then I can only suggest you vote for Mr. Parfitt. I shall not vote in this election myself, gentlemen, and I assume Mr. Parfitt will not do so either.'

'You cannot vote,' said Peter Parfitt, angrily. 'You are not a member of this board yet. I am, and I shall vote.'

'So be it, Mr. Parfitt. No one will ever be able to say you did not have the opportunity to gain every possible vote.'

William waited for the effect of his words to sink in, and as a director who was a stranger to William, was about to interrupt, he continued, 'I will ask Mr. Rodgers as company secretary to carry out the electoral procedure, and when you have completed your vote, gentlemen, perhaps you could pass the ballot papers back to him.'

Alfred Rodgers'. monocle hid been popping out periodically during the entire meeting. Nervously, he passed voting slips around to each director.

When each had written down the name of the candidate whom he supported, the slips were returned to him.

'Perhaps it might be prudent under the circhmstances, Mr. Rodgers, if the votes were counted aloud, thus making sure no inadvertent error is made that might lead the directors to require a second ballot!

'Certainly, Mr Kane?'

'Does that meet with your approval, Mr. Parfitt?' Peter Parfitt nodded his agreement without looking up.

'Thank you. Perhaps you would be kind enough to read the votes out to the board, Mr. Rodgers.'

The company secretary opened the first voting slip.

Tarfitt.'

And then the second.

Tarfitt,' he repeated.

The game was now out of William's hands. All the years of waiting for the prize he had told Charles Lester so long ago would be his would be over in the next few seconds.

'Kane. Parfitt. Kane?

Three votes to two against him; was he going to meet the same fate as he had in his contest with Tony Simmons?

'Kane. Kane. Parfitt.'

Four votes all. He could see that Parfitt was sweating profusely at the other side of the table and he didn't exactly feel relaxed himself.

'Parfitt.'

No expression crossed William's face. Parfitt allowed himself a smile.

Five votes to four.

'Kane. Kane. Kane.'

He smile disappeared.

just two more, two more, pleaded William, nearly out loud.

'Parfitt. Parfitt?

The company secretary took a long time opening a voting slip which someone had folded and refolded several times.

Kane! Eight votes to seven in William's favour.

The last piece of paper was now being opened. William watched Alfred Rodgers' lips. The company secretary looked up; for that one moment he was the most important man in the room.

'Kane.' Parfitt's head sank into his hands.

'Gentlemen, the tally is nine votes for Mr. William Kane, seven votes for Mr. Peter Parfitt. I therefore declare Mr. William Kane to be the duly elected chairman of Lester's Bank.'

A respectful silence fell aver the room and every head except Peter Parfitt's turned towards William and waited for the new chairman's first move.

William exhaled a great rush of air and stood once again, this time to face his board.

'Thank you, gentlemen, for the confidence you have placed in mine. It was Charles Lester's wish that I should be your next chairman and I am delighted you have confirmed that wish with your vote. I now intend to serve this bank to the best of my ability, which I shall be unable to do without the wholehearted support of the board. if Mr. Parfitt would be kind enough...

Peter Parfitt looked up hopefully.

... to join me in the chairman's office in a few minutes time, I would be much obliged. After I have seen Mr. Parfitt, I would like-to see Mr. Leach. I hope, gentlemen, that tomorrow I shall have the opportunity of meeting all of you individually. The next board meeting will be, the monthly one. This meeting is now adjourned!

The directors began to rise and talk among themselves. William walked quickly into the corridor, avoiding Peter Parfitt's stare. Ted Leach caught up with him and directed him to the chairman's office.

'That was a great risk you took,' said Ted Leach, 'and you only just pulled it off. What- would you have done if you'd lost the vote?'

'Gone back to Boston,' said William, sounding unperturbed.

Ted Leach opened the door to the chairman's office for William. The room was almost exactly as he remembered it; perhaps it had seemed a little larger when, as a prep-school boy, he had told Charles Lester that he would one day run the bank. He stared at the portrait of the great man behind his desk and winked at the late chairmar. Then he sat down in the big red leather chair, and put his elbows on the mahogany desk. As he took a small, leather-bound book out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him, there was a knock on the door. An old man entered, leaning heavily on a black stick with a silver handle. Ted Leach left them alone.

'My name is Rupert Cork-Smith,' he said, with a hint of an English accent William rose-to greet him. He was the oldest member of the board. His grey hair, long sideburns and heavy gold watch all came from a past em, but his reputation for probity was legendary in banking circles. No man needed to sign a contract with Rupert Cork-Smith : his word had always been his bond.

He looked William firmly in the eye.

'I voted against you, sir, and naturally you can expect my resignation to be on your desk within the hour.'

'Will you have a seat, sir?'said William gently.

'Thank you, sir,' he replied.

'I think you knew my father and grandfather.'