“Garrow?  Where’s the chief clerk?”

Norman looked up from his ledger and out beyond the protective bars in front of the serving counter before answering the branch manager’s question.

“Stepped out, sir.” Norman replied.  The branch manager’s fleshy face twitched, stretching out into the narrow passage from his office door marked PRIVATE.

“Ye’ll have to do then. I have a new customer opening an account. Get the right forms.”

Norman snatched the requested forms and joined his boss.  The older man pushed Norman a half-step back down the corridor to have a quiet word.  Norman was so close to him he could smell the hair tonic.

“The customer’s a lady, she’s an American, and she’s not quite – oh ne’r mind that.  She has money. Watch yerself and yer mouth.” the manager hissed.

Norman didn’t really need his manager’s opinion on this customer but nodded quickly.  Norman had to admit, his interest was peaked though. His boss continued quietly “plus I, uh need to see a man about a dog, NOW. So, you’ll have to take care of this.”

Norman nodded and followed his boss into the office.

“Miss Mackenzie, this is Mister Garrow, he will assist you.  If you’ll excuse me.”