It was so.

Of all the voices in the city, this was the one it most dismayed him to hear in his office at the present crisis.
He listened on, and satisfied himself that a fatal blow was coming.

He then walked quietly to his table, seated himself, and prepared to receive the stroke with external composure.
Penfold announced, "Mr.Burtenshaw." "Show him in," said Wardlaw quietly.
Mr.Burtenshaw, one of the managers of Morland's bank, came in, and Wardlaw motioned him courteously to a chair, while he finished his letter, which took only a few moments.
While he was sealing it, he half turned to his visitor, and said, "No bad news?
Morland's is safe, of course." "Well," said Burtenshaw, "there is a run upon our bank--a severe one.

We could not hope to escape the effects of the panic." He then, after an uneasy pause, and with apparent reluctance, added, "I am requested by the other directors to assure you it is their present extremity alone, that-- In short, we are really compelled to beg you to repay the amount advanced to you by the bank." Wardlaw showed no alarm, but great surprise.

This was clever; for he felt great alarm, and no surprise.
"The 81,000 pounds," said he.