YouwilladmitthatReggiehadreasontocallhisnewAccountantaNaturalCuriosityThetwomenfailedtohititoffatallRileyconsideredReggieawild,feather-headedidiot,giventoHeavenonlyknewwhatdissipationinlowplacescalled“Messes。”andtotallyunfitfortheseriousandsolemnvocationofbankingHecouldnevergetoverReggie’slookofyouthand“you-be-damned“air;
andhecouldn’tunderstandReggie’sfriends——clean-built,carelessmenintheArmy——whorodeovertobigSundaybreakfastsattheBank,andtoldsultrystoriestillRileygotupandlefttheroomRileywasalwaysshowingReggiehowthebusinessoughttobeconducted,andReggiehadmorethanoncetoremindhimthatsevenyears’limitedexperiencebetweenHuddersfieldandBeverlydidnotqualifyamantosteerabigup-countrybusinessThenRileysulkedandreferredtohimselfasapillaroftheBankandacherishedfriendoftheDirectors,andReggietorehishairIfaman’sEnglishsubordinatesfailhiminthiscountry,hecomestoahardtimeindeed,fornativehelphasstrictlimitationsInthewinterRileywentsickforweeksatatimewithhislungcomplaint,andthisthrewmoreworkonReggieButhepreferredittotheeverlastingfrictionwhenRileywaswell。
OneoftheTravellingInspectorsoftheBankdiscoveredthesecollapsesandreportedthemtotheDirectorsNowRileyhadbeenfoistedontheBankbyanMP。,whowantedthesupportofRiley’sfather,who,again,wasanxioustogethissonouttoawarmerclimatebecauseofthoselungsTheMPhadaninterestintheBank;butoneoftheDirectorswantedtoadvanceanomineeofhisown;and,afterRiley’sfatherhaddied,hemadetherestoftheBoardseethatanAccountantwhowassickforhalftheyear,hadbettergiveplacetoahealthymanIfRileyhadknowntherealstoryofhisappointment,hemighthavebehavedbetter;butknowingnothing,hisstretchesofsicknessalternatedwithrestless,persistent,meddlingirritationofReggie,andallthehundredwaysinwhichconceitinasubordinatesituationcanfindplayReggieusedtocallhimstrikingandhair-curlingnamesbehindhisbackasarelieftohisownfeelings;butheneverabusedhimtohisface,becausehesaid:“Rileyissuchafrailbeastthathalfofhisloathsomeconceitisduetopainsinthechest。”
LateoneApril,RileywentverysickindeedThedoctorpunchedhimandthumpedhim,andtoldhimhewouldbebetterbeforelong。
ThenthedoctorwenttoReggieandsaid:——“DoyouknowhowsickyourAccountantis?”“No!”saidReggie——“Theworsethebetter,confoundhim!He’saclackingnuisancewhenhe’swellI’llletyoutakeawaytheBankSafeifyoucandrughimsilentforthishot-weather。”