Dawson's question made the reality of his position--moneyless, resourceless, friendless--burst over him like a waterspout.

Dawson saw and understood; but it was not his cue to lessen that sense of helplessness.
At last Arthur sufficiently shook off his stupor to say: "Unless I win the contest, I shan't have any resources beyond the five thousand I get under the will, and a thousand or so I have in bank at Saint X--and what little I could realize from my personal odds and ends.

Isn't there some way the thing could be arranged ?" "There is the method of getting a lawyer to take a case on contingent fee," said Dawson.

"That is, the lawyer gets a certain per cent of what he wins, and nothing if he loses.

But _we_ don't make such arrangements.
They are regarded as almost unprofessional; I couldn't honestly recommend any lawyer who would.