“But what guarantee have we that you will not appropriate that also?”

“I give you my word,” replied Fields, with a smile.

“And to what end do you advise us to keep the bank intact?”

“That we may have time to arrange terms.”

“Terms—­for what?”

“For a compromise.”

“Ah-ha!”

Here was a patch of blue sky—­a glimpse of the sun.  Fields was not insensible to moderation, after all.

“What do you propose?” eagerly demanded three voices.

“I think you had first better insure yourselves against suspension,” was the reply.

In ten minutes one of the directors hurriedly departed, with five checks in his wallet.  These were the contributions of his fellows.  The president passed out to see how matters stood at the paying teller’s desk.  No more drafts had been presented, and the nineteen thousand dollars were still undisturbed.  He returned reassured.  He locked the door again.

“Now, sir,” said he to the paying teller, “let us go on.”

“Very well,” was the reply.  “I think you all perceive by this time the true position of affairs.  I possess three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and your bank has lost that sum.  I have detailed the benefits which will accrue to me, and the trouble which will in all likelihood accrue to you.  It will be unpleasant for you to throw your selves upon the mercies of your stockholders.  Stockholders are hard-hearted people.  Each one of you will, in case this matter is discovered, find his financial credit and his reputation for sagacity much impaired; and, besides this, there will be incurred the dangers of a ‘run’ upon you, to say nothing of the actual loss to the institution, which will have to be made good to the last dollar.  But let us see if we cannot do better.  Notwithstanding the fact that I have fully made up my mind to go to prison, I cannot deny that not to go to prison would be an advantage.  Therefore, if you will promise me immunity from prosecution, I will return to you to-morrow morning a quarter of a million dollars.  I ask you to give me a reply within five minutes.  The proposition is a bare one, and is sufficiently plain.  I shall require your faith as directors and individuals, and in return I will give my pledge, as a robber of the highest grade—­a bond which perhaps is as good as any that can be made under the circumstances.”

The directors no sooner saw that it lay within their power to regain five-sevenths of their money than they began, almost with one voice, threaten Fields with punishment if he did not return the whole.

“Gentlemen,” cried the paying teller, interrupting their exclamations, “I must impose one more condition.  It is that you do not mention this affair again—­that you keep the whole matter secret, and not permit it to be known beyond this apartment that I have had any other than the most agreeable relations with you.  All that is imperative.  There remain but two more minutes.  The president will signify to me your decision.”