from two to six percent.
These were reasons why banks such as First Mercantile American were relying on credit-card business to swell their profits, and they would increasingly in future years. True, initial losses with all credit-card schemes had been substantial; as bankers were apt to put it, "we took a bath." But the same bankers were convinced that a bonanza was close at hand which would outstrip-in profitability most other kinds of bank business.
Another thing bankers realized was that credit cards were a necessary way station on the route to EFTS the Electronic Funds Transfer System which, within a decade and a half, would replace the present avalanche of banking paper and make existing checks and passbooks as obsolete as the Model T.
''That's enough," Margot said. "The two of us are beginning to sound like a shareholders meeting." She came to him and kissed him fully on the lips.
The heat of their argument earlier had already aroused him, as skirmishes with Margot so often did. Their first encounter had begun that way. Sometimes, it seemed, the angrier both became, the larger their physical passion for each other grew. After a while he murmured, "I declare the shareholders meeting closed."
"Well…" Margot eased away and regarded him mischievously. "There is some unfinished business that advertising, darling. You're not really going to let it go out to the public the way it is?" "No," he said, "I don't believe I am."
The Keycharge advertising was a strong sell too strong and he would use his authority to exercise a veto in the morning. He realized he had intended to, anyway. Margot had merely confirmed his own opinion of this afternoon.
The fresh log he had added to the fire was alight and crackling. They sat on the rug before the fireplace, savoring its warmth, watching the rising tongues of flame.
Margot leaned her head against Alex's shoulder. She said softly, "For a stuffy old moneychanger, you're really not too bad." He put his arm around her. "I love you, too, Bracken." "Really and truly? Banker's honor?" "I swear by the prime rate."
"Then love me now." She began to take off her clothes. He whispered with amusement. "Here?" "Why not?" Alex sighed happily. "Why not indeed?"
Soon after, he had a sense of release and joy in contrast to the anguish of the day.
And later still, they held each other, sharing the warmth from their bodies and the fire. At last Margot stirred. 'I've said it before and I say it again: You're a delicious lover."
"And you're okay, Bracken." He aske d her, "Will you stay the night '
She often did, just as Alex frequently stayed at Margot's apartment. At times it seemed foolish to maintain their two establishments, but he had delayed the step of merging them, wanting first to marry Margot if he could.
"I'll stay for a while," she said, "but not all night. Tomorrow I have to be in court early."
Margot's court appearances were frequent and in the aftermath of such a case they had met a year and a half ago. Shortly before that first encounter Margot had defended a half dozen demonstrators who clashed with police during a rally urging total amnesty for Vietnam deserters. Her spirited defense, not only of the demonstrators but of their cause, attracted wide attention. So did her victory dismissal of all charges at the trial's end.
A few days later, at a milling c ocktail party given by Edwina D ’ o rsey and her husband Lewis, Margot was surrounded by admirers and critics. She had come to the party alone. So had Alex, who had heard of Margot, though only later did he discover she was a first cousin to Edwina. Sipping the D'Orseys' excellent Schramsberg, he had listened for a while, then joined forces with the critics. Soon after, others stood back, leaving debate to Alex and Margot, squared off like-verbal gladiators. At one point Margot had demanded, "Who the hell are you?"
"An ordinary American who believes that, in the military, discipline is necessary." "Even in an immoral war
These were reasons why banks such as First Mercantile American were relying on credit-card business to swell their profits, and they would increasingly in future years. True, initial losses with all credit-card schemes had been substantial; as bankers were apt to put it, "we took a bath." But the same bankers were convinced that a bonanza was close at hand which would outstrip-in profitability most other kinds of bank business.
Another thing bankers realized was that credit cards were a necessary way station on the route to EFTS the Electronic Funds Transfer System which, within a decade and a half, would replace the present avalanche of banking paper and make existing checks and passbooks as obsolete as the Model T.
''That's enough," Margot said. "The two of us are beginning to sound like a shareholders meeting." She came to him and kissed him fully on the lips.
The heat of their argument earlier had already aroused him, as skirmishes with Margot so often did. Their first encounter had begun that way. Sometimes, it seemed, the angrier both became, the larger their physical passion for each other grew. After a while he murmured, "I declare the shareholders meeting closed."
"Well…" Margot eased away and regarded him mischievously. "There is some unfinished business that advertising, darling. You're not really going to let it go out to the public the way it is?" "No," he said, "I don't believe I am."
The Keycharge advertising was a strong sell too strong and he would use his authority to exercise a veto in the morning. He realized he had intended to, anyway. Margot had merely confirmed his own opinion of this afternoon.
The fresh log he had added to the fire was alight and crackling. They sat on the rug before the fireplace, savoring its warmth, watching the rising tongues of flame.
Margot leaned her head against Alex's shoulder. She said softly, "For a stuffy old moneychanger, you're really not too bad." He put his arm around her. "I love you, too, Bracken." "Really and truly? Banker's honor?" "I swear by the prime rate."
"Then love me now." She began to take off her clothes. He whispered with amusement. "Here?" "Why not?" Alex sighed happily. "Why not indeed?"
Soon after, he had a sense of release and joy in contrast to the anguish of the day.
And later still, they held each other, sharing the warmth from their bodies and the fire. At last Margot stirred. 'I've said it before and I say it again: You're a delicious lover."
"And you're okay, Bracken." He aske d her, "Will you stay the night '
She often did, just as Alex frequently stayed at Margot's apartment. At times it seemed foolish to maintain their two establishments, but he had delayed the step of merging them, wanting first to marry Margot if he could.
"I'll stay for a while," she said, "but not all night. Tomorrow I have to be in court early."
Margot's court appearances were frequent and in the aftermath of such a case they had met a year and a half ago. Shortly before that first encounter Margot had defended a half dozen demonstrators who clashed with police during a rally urging total amnesty for Vietnam deserters. Her spirited defense, not only of the demonstrators but of their cause, attracted wide attention. So did her victory dismissal of all charges at the trial's end.
A few days later, at a milling c ocktail party given by Edwina D ’ o rsey and her husband Lewis, Margot was surrounded by admirers and critics. She had come to the party alone. So had Alex, who had heard of Margot, though only later did he discover she was a first cousin to Edwina. Sipping the D'Orseys' excellent Schramsberg, he had listened for a while, then joined forces with the critics. Soon after, others stood back, leaving debate to Alex and Margot, squared off like-verbal gladiators. At one point Margot had demanded, "Who the hell are you?"
"An ordinary American who believes that, in the military, discipline is necessary." "Even in an immoral war
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