In the bush no bank account was kept, as there was no bank within
fifty or a hundred miles; and it was an implied insult to expect a
gentleman to produce his cash balance out of his pocket. As a matter
of courtesy he expected to be informed by letter two or three weeks
beforehand when it was intended to make an official inspection of his
books, in order that he might not be absent, nor taken unawares.
When the Inspector appeared, Mr. H. did not lose his presence of
mind, or show any signs of embarrassment. He said he was glad to see
him (which was a lie), hoped he had had a pleasant journey through
the bush; asked how things were going on in Melbourne, and made
enquiries about old friends there. But all the while he was
calculating chances. He had acquired the valuable habit of the
gambler and speculator, of talking about one thing while he was
thinking about another. His thoughts ran on in this style: "This
fellow (he could not think of him as a gentleman) wants to see my
cash; haven't got any; must be near five hundred pounds short by this
time; can't borrow it' no time to go round' couldn't get it if I did'
deuced awkward; shall be given in charge; charged with larceny or
embezzlement or something; can't help it' better quit till I think
about it." So apologising for his absence for a few minutes on
urgent business, he went out, mounted his horse, and rode away to the
mountains.
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