when Crosby had made his reference to the Titanic.
Matthew touched his friend's arm. 'We'd better go.'
The three trudged off to William's rooms and silently drank some indifferent brandy.
When William woke in the morning, there was an envelope under his door.
Inside there was a short note, from the chairman of the Porcellian Club informing him that 'he hoped there would never be a recurrence of last night's, best forgotten, incident.'
By lunchtime the chairman had received two letters of resignation.
After months of long, studious days, William and Matthew were almost ready - no one ever thinks he is quite ready - for their final examinations. For six days they answered questions and filled up sheets and sheets of the little books, and then they waited, not in vain for they both graduated as expected from Harvard in June of 1928.
A week later it was announced that William was the winner of the President's Mathematics Prize. He wished his father had been alive to witness the presentation ceremony. Matthew managed an honest 'C', which came as a relief to him and no great surprise to anyone else. Neither had any interest in further education, both having elected to join the real world as quickly as possible.
William's bank account in New York edged over the million dollar mark eight days before he left Harvard. It was then that he discussed in greater detail with Matthew his long term plan to gain control of Lester's Bank by merging it with Kane and Cabot.
Matthew was enthusiastic about the idea and confessed, 'That's about the only way I'll ever improve on what my old man will undoubtedly leave me when he dies.'
On graduation day, Alan Lloyd, now in his sixtieth year, came to Harvard.
After the graduation ceiLemony, William took his guest for tea on the square. Alan eyed the tall young man affectionately.
'And what do you intend to do now that you have put Harvard behind you?'
'I'm going to join Charles Lesters bank in New York and gain some experience before I come to Kane and Cabot in a few years' time.'
'But you've been living in Lester's bank since you were twelve~ years old, William Why don't you come straight to us now? We would appoint you as a director iramediately.'
William said nothing. Alan Lloyd's offer came as a total surprise. With all his ambition, it had never occurred to him, even for a moment, that he might be invited to be a director of the bank before he was twenty - five, the age at which his father had achieved that distinction.
Alan Lloyd waited for his reply. It was not forthcoming. 'Well, I must say, William, it's most unlike you to be rendered speechless by anything!
Tut I never imagined you would invite me to join the board before my twenty - fifth birthday, when my father . . ., 'Ies true your father was elected when he was twenty - five. However, that's no reason to prohibit you from joining the board before then if the other directors support the idea, and I know that they do. In any case, there are personal reasons why I should like to see you a director as soon as possible. When I retire from the bank in five years' time, we must be sure of electing the right chairman. You will be in a stronger position to influence that decision if you have been working for Kane and Cabot during those five years rather than as a grand functionary at Lester's. Well, my boy, will you join the board?'
It was the second time that day that William wished his father were still alive.
'I should be delighted to accept, sir,' he said.
Alan looked up at William. 'That's the first time you've called me "sir" since we played golf together. I &hall have to watch you very carefully.'
William smiledd 'Good ' ' said Alan Lloyd, 'that"s settled then. You'll be a junior director in charge of investments, working directly under Tony Simmons.'
'Can I appoint my own assistant?' asked William.
Alan Lloyd looked at him quizzically. 'Matthew Lester, no doubt?'
'Yes.1 'No. I don't want him doing in our bank what you intended to do in theirs.
Thomas Cohen should have taught you that.'
William said nothing but never underestimated Alan again.
Charles Lester laughed when William repeated the conversation word for word to him.
'I'm sorry to hear you won't be coming to us, even as a spy,' he said genially, 'but I have no doubt you'll end up here some day - in one capacity or