But he is powerful; he is rich; he is, under myself alone, in command of the army.

And, moreover, I believe he stands well with the signorina.

The situation, in fact, is desperate.

I must have money, Mr.Martin.Will your directors make me a new loan ?" I knew very well the fate that would attend any such application.
The directors were already decidedly uneasy about their first loan; shareholders had asked awkward questions, and the chairman had found no small difficulty in showing that the investment was likely to prove either safe or remunerative.

Again, only a fortnight before, the Government had made a formal application to me on the same subject.