Chapter 43: Chapter 43
"Not at all! Not at all! But we have a large and valuable stock of houses that must be
sold within a reasonable time or we shall have temporary cash problems, and then
the London office wants us to expand our operations; they are not concerned about
the coming elections and have no idea of their importance. They are more concerned
with the question of offering shares on the open market and starting a bank; the
names suggested so far are 'The Bank of Victoria', and ' The Metropolitan and Rural
Bank'. These are only preliminary ideas, but you can appreciate the amount of work
and attention to detail that would follow such a decision. I could not possibly
campaign for office once I became immersed in such vast enterprises as these."
"This is very strange," said Mr Briggs. "It is a great pity your London office did not
notify you of its intentions before nominations closed for the election. If you
withdraw now it will be the talk of the city. With no opponent Jobley will be declared
the member without the need of a poll and it would provide an enormous boost also
to Berry. I have no doubt he would win the election and then proceed to undermine
the structure of business and wealth we have erected in Victoria. Can't you reconsider
this decision?"
Mr Pryor looked at him pensively and rubbed his chin. He gestured to Briggs to move
away from the bar, even though there was no one else present; the barmaid was now
helping to serve patrons in the adjoining room. The three of them sat at a small table.
"I can see the glimmer of a solution but hesitated to mention it because it involved the
question of money," said Mr Pryor. "I fear I have imposed on you and your committee
far too much. You gentlemen have been more than generous in your support for my
campaign; but the point that occurs to me is that if Mr Fox was able to direct more
staff he would be able to cope with my absences and no damage would be done to our
future or our plans for starting a new bank. To do that, of course, will require a
further advance of money."
"Money!" said Mr Briggs, "you want more money? We have already given you a very
large sum and not enquired as to its expenditure. Why is that not sufficient?"
"Ah," replied Mr Pryor, "we musn't mix up campaign funds with investment capital.
We are not asking for a gift but a forward investment in our business ventures. When
we float the bank we will be selling shares at a premium but if you care to consider
this a forward purchase we will let you have the equivalent amount of shares at par."
Mr Briggs frowned. "I am not sure I want to spend money buying shares in a nonexistent bank. How much do you have in mind?"
"Only a modest amount," replied Mr Pryor. "£500 will do nicely. I could ask for more
but I am sure with Mr Fox's prudent management we can overcome any minor
difficulties."
"Five hundred pounds!" said Mr Briggs, aghast. "Considering what we have given you
already, at this rate we will be up to a thousand pounds in no time." In his agitation he
almost drained a second glass of claret and Pryor had to call for a refill.
"£500 or £1000, it's a mere bagatelle in the context of what we are talking about. If we
win the election it will be worth many thousands to your group. If we lose it will cost
you many thousands."
Once again Mr Briggs wiped a film of perspiration from his forehead. "When do you
want an answer?"
"No hurry, Monday will do very well, but my principals in London are hard headed
businessmen and they intend to get on with this new project. Of course I am very
heartened by their confidence in Mr Fox and myself, but we need your temporary
assistance. If you can't help I will have to announce on Monday that I am withdrawing
from the election. It's a great pity but I am sure that whichever party wins Victoria
will have a great and glorious future."
Having uttered these words he and Gabriel bade farewell to the despondent
businessman and walked out of the hotel. Once in the street and out of sight of the
bar windows Pryor clapped his hands and rubbed them together with satisfaction.
"Five hundred quid ready to drop in our laps." He shook his head as another thought
occurred to him. "I'll never learn, I should have asked for seven hundred and fifty, or a
thou. Ah, well. It's too late now, maybe next time."
"I'm glad I saw that," said Gabriel, unconsciously echoing Mrs Goss. "You think we will
be allright?"
Mr Pryor winked and whistled a jaunty little tune as they crossed the road. "Monday
will be mannah day for us; do you think I should stick him for some more?" Gabriel
thought it better not. "Ah, well. Five hundred sovs is not a bad day's work; we might
get some more out of him later. I hope you studied the value of supply and demand. I
am the only one in the world that can take on Jobley at this election because
nominations have closed and no one else can have a go; if I pull out he will get a free
ride into Parliament."
They crossed the road to their own office. Soon it would be twelve o'clock and the
clerks would go home, or to a cricket game somewhere. No such relaxation for
Gabriel or Mr Pryor, they would each go out to one of their estates and talk to the
home-buyers who would be prowling around and looking at the show houses in
response to persistent advertising in the daily papers
James Pryor had been thinking about their recent interview. "What do you reckon
would be a good name for a bank? I just plucked those two names out of the air
because I didn't think about it much until I started talking to Briggs. We could use a
new, lively, go-ahead bank in this town. There's a fortune to be picked up and I rather
fancy myself as managing director of a large commercial bank. We could float it on
the stock exchange here and in London. that should supply all the capital we need.
Anyway, give it some thought over the week-end and if we come up with a good name
on Monday I'll register it.
Gabriel was not sure he could stand the excitement of being part proprietor of a bank.
They were on the verge of disaster with their present enterprises and only luck and
Mr Pryor's superb cheek was keeping them solvent. Perhaps some day they would be
rich and secure, but not yet.
He was worried about the next quarter's payments. How could they be sure there
would be enough money in another three months?"
Mr Pryor patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. "That's allright, Gabby. Don't
give it another thought. Don't forget I havn't spent the election money yet, and I told
you we were on a profit. There will be enough money in the account to pay off the
next lot and I won't spend it this time."
"You mean you had the cash in hand already? Why did we have to go through all that
rigmarole with Briggs when you had the money all the time?
James Pryor winked. "If we were short next quarter I wouldn't be able to blackmail Briggs because the election would have been all over. They could throw me
out of parliament for being bankrupt but I wouldn't want to go to Briggs with a story
like that. We can't afford to give anyone a sign of weakness; they'd have us down in no
time.
He looked at Gabriel's face. "Don't you worry, Gabby? We'll pull it off -- it's early days
yet and there might be a few fortunes to come and go before we're really wealthy.
Though I tell you, if I were you I'd put the house and any other assets you can lay your
hands on in your wife's name; if things go bad at least they can't touch her property.Benno in touble - Again
By the time Mr Pryor's french clock had sounded the last stroke of noon the three
clerks had hurriedly put on their coats and were bidding goodbye as they walked out
the door. The day was fine and there were hours of daylight to be enjoyed before
Sunday when legislation demanded that all sinful activities should cease. On Sundays
Melbourne sank back in on itself and the godly held sway in church and chapel;
almost everything closed except places of worship. The Public Library would be open
and it was possible to walk in the parks, and sometimes hear a band. These pastimes
were viewed with suspicion by many influential clerics; the proper place for the
people of Melbourne on Sundays was in church and the reading of irreligious books
on the Sabbath, or hearing profane music, was denounced from many a pulpit.
However it was still Saturday, and Gabriel and Mr Pryor left the office a few minutes
after their employees. Both would have a quick lunch at home before going out to
urge the purchase of the desirable, modern homes advertised in the daily papers.
Saturday was a day for selling rather than electioneering so Mr Pryor could attend to
business with a clear mind.
Mrs Goss came out of the music shop as Gabriel was passing and they walked on
together talking amicably until they came to the post office where Gabriel glanced up
to make sure they were not accosted by Benno lurking in the colonnade.
He was not there, but they were not easily to escape his influence for one of his mates
was on watch and lurched down the steps to walk beside them while keeping a
cautious eye on the police directing traffic over the crossing. He said nothing, being a
man of little fluency though he had had one previous moment of eloquence when they
first met in O'Hanlon's pub and he had denounced Gabriel's views on working class
investments. Gabriel was reluctant to say anything. Perhaps the fellow already knew
about Benno being shopped to Jones the detective and would make his views known
on the subject of people who dobbed in their mates to the police. Mrs Goss kept
peeping round Gabriel at this new addition to the gallery of characters she had met
since starting work in the music shop. The extensive tattoos on his arms were of
particular interest; with shirtsleeves cut off to the shoulder the man was a walking
picture gallery.
The Young Marvel
258
They were halfway up the hill, nearing Queen Street, when the newcomer spoke for
the first time. "Benno's in the shit again," he said hoarsely, but recollected that he was
in the company of a lady and looked across at Mrs Goss. "Sorry Missus," he said
sheepishly. "I mean, me mate Benno's in a bit of trouble with the law. He's gunna
need some help because Jones's after him. Jones reckons Benno's goin' to the
stockade for at least twelve moons, once he catches up with him. He says he's got a
witness that'll put him straight inside.
"What has he done?" asked Mrs Goss eagerly. Has he broken someone else's
windows?"
"Nah! Him and Wocka was nearly lumbered for throwin' tomatoes at Jobley, that
bloke that wants to close the pubs. They was going to fix Jobley right up but Jones was
on to them before they could really get going; and now he's got this witness he keeps
talkin' about.
Mrs Goss was delighted at the thought of being personally acquainted with such a
desperate character but Gabriel was alarmed to think he was the mysterious witness,
and of the necessity of appearing in court to testify against Benno and Wocka. It was
an uncomfortable thought. "Are they under arrest?"
"Nah, Jones hasn't lamped Benno yet and he's not taking Wocka in for a while. When
Wocka's missus found out what he'd been doing she told Jones to leave him to her.
She was gunna do him over and they reckon by the time she finished he wished he'd
gone out to the stockade for a few months. Now she's crook on him even more
because she bent the handle of her best frying pan when she donged him with it."
"She must be a big, powerful woman," said Mrs Goss admiringly.
‘Nah. She's only half Wocka's size. If he holds his arm out straight she can walk round
underneath it; but thank Gawd she's not mine. She's a firecracker that one; I know I
wouldn't like to take her on."
Mrs Goss was astonished to hear this revelation of family life in the Wocka household.
"Why does he put up with it? Is he as big as you?"
"Well, yair, he's taller thant me and I reckon he's a bit heavier. But he gave his missus
a bit of a backhander when they were first married; he wanted to shut her up for a
while. But he didn't do it more than once. She waited until he was asleep and hopped
into him with a rolling pin. He never done that again -- he says he can't stay awake all
the time."
Gabriel waited impatiently for the man to finish."Well, where's Benno, then?"
The man looked about. "Ah, well," he muttered, in some doubt about how much to
tell, he paused. "Well, he's living under someone's house and the people in the house
havn't found out yet about him being there. I reckon it's not much of a life for poor
old Benno; and he needs money for medicine and food. Anyway the boys reckon they
can get him on to the Sydney boat like we were going to do last time, but he has to get
his hands on the dibs. He'll need spare change when he gets to Sydney.
Gabriel sighed. Benno always needed money and when he got it the results were
disastrous. The best idea he could think of was to get him out of Melbourne as soon as
possible. He was not happy to think he might have to stand up in court and identify
Benno and Wocka as the culprits who assaulted Jobley with their tomatoes; he had to
live in the town afterwards. Though how could he arrange to have Benno paid a small
amount before he got to Sydney? It had to be just enough to buy some food, but not
enough to get him into trouble, and if Jones found him first Gabriel would have no
choice but to testify in court.
"What ship?" asked Mrs Goss, "do you know what ship they're going to put him on?"
"Uh, I don't know, Missus. I think it might be the Culloden. She'll be the next ship to
leave for Sydney, in a couple'a days, Tuesday I think. She had to have a valve fixed
over Christmas but she's back on the Sydney run now.
Mrs Goss was triumphant. "That was the boat we were on when we were looking for
Memsworth. You remember Mr Dawkins, we met him that night. He's first mate of the
Culloden and if you like I can give Mr Dawkins some money for you and he can hand it
to this Benno man when they get to Sydney."
She simpered. "He and I have been walking out together since Christmas so we'll meet
whenever his ship is in Melbourne. He already has his master's ticket and the owners
have promised to make him captain when the other one retires but he wants to get a
job as a Port Phillip pilot; either that or captain of an excursion steamer, or master of
a tug. He doesn't mind much as long as he can stay here in Melbourne and work on
the bay. He is a widower, you know. His wife died some years ago and I think, if he is
successful in getting a post in Melbourne, he will declare his intentions."
Gabriel congratulated her on this prospect of matrimony and turned to the man to be
rid of him. He handed over five shillings. "I will get some more, but for heaven's sake
keep him out of trouble, off the streets, and out of the pubs, otherwise Jones will find
him. I think we will do what Mrs Goss suggests and Mr Dawkins can hold the money
until they get to Sydney; after that he will be on his own, he can do what he likes, as
long as he doesn't try and get back on the boat. I suppose he has enough sense for
that; Jones will be waiting for him back here. Mr Dawkins may be kind enough to give
him a little cash for us whenever he is in Sydney; or at least until he can get a job."
The man looked at the crown piece doubtfully. An optimist like his friend he
had been expecting more, but Gabriel's manner gave no encouragement to pleas for
further advances from Benno's credit balance. The £33 seemed as firmly concealed as
ever in the recesses of the capitalist system. He took the money, shrugged, and
turned away.
"I can get a little more on Monday," Gabriel called to the retreating men, "but don't
come near the office. Watch out for me here after work." The man looked back and
nodded, then walked on.
"I will be seeing Mr Dawkins tomorrow," said Mrs Goss. "We're taking the steamer to
Queenscliff to have picnic, and I can ask him then when the boat will be sailing."