Francis Baring made his way to the VIP room, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The Earl of Peter stood by the window in a crisp suit, studying Baring Bank's internal documents with a grave expression.
Francis Baring had naturally arranged for someone to plant those documents there. After all, seeing was believing, and nothing made the truth easier to accept than discovering it with one's own hands.
He could send the stock market into turmoil with just a short run, but influencing the decisions of a nation's highest authority took more thought.
"Good day, Prime Minister. It's an honor to have you here."
"Good day, Mr. Baring. I'm very grateful you could make time for me despite your busy schedule."
The Earl of Derby extended his hand, looking warmly welcoming. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he said,
"I know you're busy, so I'll get straight to the point. What do you think of Egypt's Suez Canal project?"
The Baring family had its own channels, so Francis Baring knew all the ins and outs of the Suez Canal project. In fact, Egypt had sent someone to approach him about it before any of this happened. He pondered for a moment, then said,
"This is both an opportunity and a challenge for Britain. If the government needs financing, Baring Bank would be willing to underwrite the bonds."
Francis Baring hadn't finished speaking when the Earl of Derby cut him off.
"Mr. Baring, I'm sure you know that Britain is going through a difficult time. The country's money needs to be spent where it's most needed."
"I'm sorry, Prime Minister. The economy is in poor shape, and Baring Bank isn't planning to make any additional investments right now."
Francis Baring was an old fox. How could