THE STORY OF MY LEGAL EXAMLXATION. 205 



[I made a mistake in mentioning my law examination 

 first ; there's the banking to come.] 



The question was put to me, would I like to go into 

 Buller, Fobbes and Grumbur/s Bank? I said I thought 

 1 should : my notion of my employment at Buller, Fobbes 

 and Grumbury's being that I should stand behind a counter 

 with a copper coal shovel, and dabble in sovereigns. Ever>'- 

 one said that I was a lucky fellow, and would be a partner 

 with Buller, Fobbes and Grumbury, or, Buller deceased 

 and only Fobbes and Grumbury left, I should succeed to 

 Grumbury's vacant place, or Grumbury being gone, I should 

 'come into Fobbes' place, or both defunct, I should be all 

 alone as Myself, late Buller, Fobbes and Grumbury. There 

 was the opening, said my uncle, encouraging me as if I were 

 a ferret going in to work my way up, and hunt out poor old 

 Fobbes and Grumbury. 



In I went. The partners were very particular about their 

 clerks being at the office at nine, and not leaving until the 

 last figure had been scored, and all work done, which often 

 didn't happen till half-past five. At midday I would rush 

 over to my cousin at Lloyd's, who could always spare an hour 

 to my five minutes, and ask him to give me luncheon. I 

 have come to the conclusion that turtle-soup and punch is 

 not the best thing to take in the middle of the day, if you 

 want to add up accounts. Birch's punch is A i, and soon 

 became A 2, and A3. I believe my cousin went back ready 

 to write risks for fabulous sums to the coast of the undis- 

 covered islands, if anyone had suggested such speculations 

 then. For myself, after one of these midday repasts, I 



