Ottawa, Canada, 1934. Seventeen-year old Frances McFadden is plucked from the tedium of school routine and the control of a domineering mother to work for the new Bank of Canada. Like many hard-working women of her generation, she comes to wield tremendous power without any of the trappings of authority. Many noble acts, some skinny-dipping. In late August 1939, Frances is sent on a secret mission to Warsaw, where the Polish gold reserves tempt a rapacious neighbour.Speaking of The Underling . . . ...a sly mixture of fact and fiction, with characters well-drawn, dialogue fun and lively, the plot full of surprises, wit, and wisdom. -Allison Dingle Frances McFadden ... a compelling protagonist in a fiction crafted to be totally believable. - Pat BelyeaI can't believe that I'm enjoying a novel based on banking - Marilyn Blattel ... a fine read. Who would guess that the founding of the Bank of Canada could be made lively and exciting Frances is a memorable character. The reader roots for