It is now five years later.
Tellson’s Bank is hideous in design and very old-fashion. The partners are proud of these very qualities. They feel a less objectionable bank would be ill-reputed. The architecture is inconvenient. The customers wait an interminable amount of time for their business to be resolved. The bank is dark and everything smells musty.
Despite the fact that the smallest offence can result in a death sentence, crime has increased. However, the punishment of the offenders does remove them permanently from troubling Tellson’s Bank. Many have been executed for defrauding or stealing from it.
The younger staff is never seen. You only see very old men pouring over books. The bank employs Jerry Cruncher as an odd job man. He serves as a sign, porter, and messenger. His twelve year old son fills in when he is doing an errand. Jerry Sr. is always in front of the bank during business hours unless he is on an errand.
Though it is not in a good neighborhood, Mr. Cruncher’s apartment is maintained well. He is sleeping when he is woken up by his wife saying her prayers. He accuses her of praying against him. She says she is praying for him. He snidely asks her what her prayers are worth. She says they come from the heart. He says they aren’t worth anything then. He wants her to stop working against him, for maybe he and his son could earn their money.
Jerry Jr. takes his father’s side. His father yells at his mother when she starts saying grace over the meal.
Father and son report to work. The son bullies younger boys who pass by. The father is given an assignment from within the bank to act as a porter.