The narrator attempted to open an account secretly.

Upon entering the bank, the narrator asked to speak to the manager privately. Because of the narrator's nervous agitation and air of secrecy, the manager assumed that he was dealing with a private detective. After questioning him, however, the manager discovered that the narrator merely wanted to open an account.

For his part, the manager assumed that the narrator was, at the very least, a relatively wealthy man. After all, the latter's cautious manner seemed to suggest it. Upon discovering that the narrator wanted to deposit a mere fifty-six dollars into his new account, the manager dropped his previously ingratiating manner.

Unceremoniously, the manager referred the narrator back to the accountant. By this time greatly embarrassed, the narrator unwittingly stepped into the safe. Coldly, the manager ordered the narrator to vacate the room.

The accountant then assisted the narrator in depositing his money. Immediately after, the narrator requested a withdrawal. The accountant told the latter to fill out a withdrawal slip. Because of his nervousness, the narrator asked to withdraw all of the funds he had just deposited.

In the end, the narrator had little choice but to leave with all of the money he had just deposited. Because of his extreme nervousness, the unfortunate narrator had attempted to open an account secretly.