Instinctively he straightened in his chair, and his glance at the other
two young men showed that they had quite as involuntarily straightened
in theirs. As the head of the firm, Hugh Benson, after a moment's pause,
answered, in a quietly firm tone which made Richard regard him with
fresh respect:
"If it didn't, Mr. Kendrick, I shouldn't want to be my father's
successor. He may have been a failure in business, but it was not for
want of absolute integrity."
The keen eyes softened as they rested on the young man's face, and Mr.
Kendrick bent his head, as if he would do honour to the memory of a
father who, however unsuccessful as the world judges success, could make
a son speak as this son had spoken. "I am sure that is true, Mr.
Benson," he said, and paused for a moment before he went on:
"It is the foundation principle of business--that a reputation for
trustworthiness can be built only on the rock of real merit. The
appearance of the store must not tell one lie--not one--from front door
to back--not even the shadow of a lie. Nothing must be left to the
customer's discretion. If he pays so much money he must get so much
value, whether he knows it or not.
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