“Now,” the banker said, pushing a stack of documents across the desk with a pen, “please fill out the personal information requested on the first document, then sign each of them at the places indicated.”

Laurence began signing, handing each completed sheet to Trilling. As he was signing the final page, Trilling’s phone rang.

“Conrad Trilling. Yes. I understand. And that amount?” He made a note and hung up. “Mr. Hayward, your funds have been transferred to your new account. I regret that they have deducted thirty dollars from the total for the wire-transfer fee.”

“I can handle that,” Laurence said.

“Now, it remains only to transfer funds to your investment account. How much do you wish to invest?”

“First,” Laurence said, “I want to retain thirty million dollars in my checking account, as I expect to purchase some property quite soon. Second, I wish to purchase thirty million pounds sterling and transfer that amount to my checking account at Coutts & Company in London. Here is a blank check with the account number.”

“Laurence,” Stone said, “may I ask, how do you intend those funds to be used?”

“I want to make gifts of ten million pounds each to Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford. The rest is what you might call walking-around money. I may wish to purchase some property in England at a later date.”

“We’ll discuss this with your new accountant, later, but I should tell you that if you send money directly to your bank account in London, the British Inland Revenue Service will become aware of that almost immediately, and they will regard those sums as income, on which the highest rate of tax will be levied.”

“Oops,” Laurence said, “how should I handle this?”

“After we have discussed this with your accountant, you may wish to establish a trust, then make those payments directly to the colleges from that trust, without sending them through your London bank account.”

“Stone,” Laurence said, “you have just earned your legal fee.”

“Thank you. Conrad, are we done?”

“Not quite.” He reached into a desk drawer, fumbled with something, then came up with an alligator-bound wallet. “Mr. Hayward, this is your checkbook. The cover is a personal gift from the M&T Bank.” He handed him an envelope. “And this is your new American Express card.”

Laurence removed the card from the envelope. “Why is it black?” he said. “I thought they were green or gold.”

“The Centurion card is American Express’s highest level.” He handed Laurence a thick, leather-bound document. “Here is an outline of the AmEx services to which you are entitled at that level.”

“I see.”

Trilling handed him two more cards. “And here is our bank’s Visa and a separate debit card. Please enter a four-digit PIN and sign this document.”

Laurence did so.

“And now,” Stone said, “if our business here is concluded, Laurence has another appointment.”