Settling-day is drawing near, and how to pay for the shares he is bound to deliver he has not the faintest notion.
He stamped up and down the room, called down curses on the prying fools who came across the unexpected streak of copper in the failing mine, drew heart-rending pictures of his wife and family singing hymns in the street, and asked me for a drink of prussic acid.

I rang the bell and ordered Rogers to give him a brandy and soda.
"Now," said I, "talk sense.

How much can you raise ?" He went into figures and showed me that, although he stretched his credit to the utmost, there were still ten thousand pounds to be provided.
"It's utter smash and ruin," he groaned.

"And all my accursed folly.

I thought I was going to make a fortune.