'But the bank's rules do allow for an emergency meeting to be held on twenty - four hours notice?' asked William.

They do, Mr. Kane,' Alfred Rodgers affirmed, his monocle now firmly in place and focused on William - 'Excellent, then lees call our own board meeting.'

The three bankers stared at William as if they had not quite heard him clearly.

Think about it, gentlemen,' William continued. 7&. Leach, as vice - chairman, calls the board meeting and Mr. Rodger% as company secretary, informs all the directors!

"When would you want this board meeting to take place?' asked Ted LeaclL 'romorrow afternoon.' William looked at his watch. 'ITiree o'clock.'

'Good God, thaes cutting it a bit fine,' said Alfred Rodgers. 'I'm not sure. . .'

'Cutting it very fine for Peter Parfitt~ wouldn!t you say?' said William.

'That's true~' said Ted Leach, 'if you know precisely what you have planned for the meeting?'

'You leave the meeting to me. just be sure that ies correctly convened and that every director is properly informed!

'I wonder haw Peter Parfitt is going to react,' said Ted Leach.

Don't worry about Parfitt; said William. 'Thaes the mistake we've made all along. Let him start to worry about us for a change. As long as he is given the full twenty - four hours notice and he's the last director informed, we have nothing to fear. We don't want him to have any more time than necessary to stap. a caunter - attack. And gentlemen, do not be surprised by anything I do or say tomorrow. Trust my judgment, and be there to support me.'

'You don!t feel we ought to know exactly what you have in mindT 'No, Mr. Leach, you must appear at the meeting as disinterested directors doing no more than carrying out your duty.'

It was beginning to dawn on Ted Leach and his two colleagues why Charles Lester had chosen William Kane to be their next chairman. They left the Metropolitan Club a good deal more confident than when they had arived, despite their being totally in the dark as to what would actually happen at the board meeting they were about to instigate. William, on the, other hand, having carried out the first part of Thomas Cohen's instrwtions, was now looking forward to pulling off the harder second part.

He spent must of the afternoon and evening in his room at the Yale Club, meticulously conside rmig his tar - tics for the next da - /s n2eeting and taking only a short break tD call Kate.

'Where are you, darling?' she said. 'Stealing away in the middle of the night to I know not where!

'To my mistress in New York,' said William.

'Poor girl,' said Kate. 'She probably doesn't know the half of it. What's her advice on the devious Mr. Parfitt?'

'Haven't had time to ask her, we've been so busy doing other things.

While I have you on the phone, whaes your advice?'

'Do nothing Charles Lester or your father wouldn't have done in the same circumstances,' said Kate, suddenly serious.

'They're probably playing golf together on the eighteenth cloud and taking a side bet watching us the whole time.'

'Whatever you do, William, you won!t go far wrong if you do remember they are watching you.'

When dawn broke, William was already awake, having only managed to sleep for short, fitful intervals. He rose a little after six, had a cold shower, went for a long walk through Central Park to clear his head, and returned to the Yale Club for a light breakfast. There was a message waiting for him in the front hall - from his wife. William laughed when he read it for a second time at the line, 'If you're not too busy could you remember to buy Richard a baseball glove.' William picked up the Wall Street journal which was still running the story of trouble in the Lester's board room over the selection of a new chairman. It now had Peter Parfitt's version of the story, hinting that his appointment as chairman would probably be confirmed at Thursday's meeting. William wondered whose version would be reported in tomorrow's paper. Oh, for a look at tomorrow's journal now. He spent the morning double checking the articles of incorporation and by - laws of Lester's Bank. He had no lunch but did find time to visit Schwalts and buy a baseball glove for his son.

At two - tbirty William took a cab to the bank on Wall Street and arrived a few minutes before three. The young doorman asked him if he had an appointment to see anyone.

'I'm William Kane.'

Tes, sir; you!ll want the board room!

Good God, thought William~ I can't even remember where it is.

The doorman observed his embarrassment. Tou take the corridor on the left, si4 and then ies the second door on the right!