His case had crumbled about his ears; his defeat would be known all over the district, and nothing could much longer stave off the inevitable exposure of his misappropriations.

But he was a fighter all over, and he still saw a chance to pull things through.
He wasted no words on Peggy.

"Go and get Mick to come here," he said, and Mick, still somewhat lopsided about the face from his accident, was soon in the room.
"Mick," said Blake, "your sister has told me something very important that ought to have been told me before.

It's no good crying over spilt milk.

There's still a chance.