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“Surely the fickleminded nature of the angry few will help tie up any loose ends,” the short email concluded. “You owe me a large Scotch.” Mr Staley, who has been heavily criticised for his attempt to unmask a whistleblower, soon replied to the prankster in effusive terms. Presumably thinking he was talking to his chairman, who has been dubbed “Mack the Knife” for his habit of ousting chief executives, Mr Staley said, “You are a unique man, Mr McFarlane”. “You came to my defense today with a courage not seen in many people. How do I thank you?” Mr Staley wrote. The 60-year-old Barclays boss continued in the same style: “You have a sense of what is right, and you have a sense of theatre. You mix humor with grit. Thank you John. Never underestimate my recognition of your support. And my respect for your guile.” He had time for yet more praise before he signed off. “And some day I want to see an ad lib guitar run. You have all the fearlessness of Clapton,” said Mr Staley, referencing the legendary guitarist Eric Clapton and his chairman’s fondness for playing his guitar in public meetings. The brief conversation ended with a final email around 11pm. The imposter sent a poem, which began “Worry not of tomorrow’s end” and ended “Revel in their bloodied eyes”. The first letter of each line spelled out the word ‘Whistleblower’. “Thanks for sharing the foxhole,” Mr Staley replied. The prankster, who contacted the Financial Times via Twitter, told us the email was part of his “battle with Barclays” over a customer issue. “I thought I’d see how Jes was relaxing after his AGM,” he said. Barclays declined to comment. The emails, which the FT has verified are genuine, are reproduced below. [Prankster’s email ] From: John McFarlane [john.mcfarlane.barclays@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 08:47 PM GMT Standard Time To: Staley, Jes: Barclays (LDN) Subject: The fool doth think he is wise Mason-Mahon is as brusque as he is ill informed. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030353