He could not retrench, for his game was concealment; his father was kept in the dark, and drew his four thousand a year, as usual, and, upon any hesitation in that respect, would have called in an accountant and wound up the concern.

But this tax upon the receipts, though inconvenient, was a trifle compared with the series of heavy engagements that were impending.

The future was so black that Wardlaw junior was sore tempted to realize twenty thousand pounds, which a man in his position could easily do, and fly the country.

But this would have been to give up Helen Rolleston; and he loved her too well.
His brain was naturally subtle and fertile in expedients; so he brought all its powers to bear on a double problem--how to marry Helen and restore the concern he had mismanaged to its former state.

For this a large sum of money was needed, not less than ninety thousand pounds.
The difficulties were great; but he entered on this project with two advantages.