While English merchant bankers engaged in an agreeable lunch, Mr Thornton would arrive unannounced at prospective clients, make his pitch and seal the deal.

• 桑顿先生往往在英国商人式的银行家们正惬意地享用午餐时，未经约会就来到潜在客户面前，一番说辞之后，就可以签下合同。