It will be useless for Mr.Doane to address him further in any other connection.
"Enterprise House, September 3." Ambrose stood reflecting with the note in his hand.

For a single moment his heart failed him.

His inexperience was appalled by the weight of the decision he had to make.
Oh, for Peter Minot's strong, humorous sense at this crisis! The thought of Peter nerved him.

Peter had taken it for granted that he would make good.

Ambrose remembered the sacrifices Peter had cheerfully made to finance this expedition.
To accept John Gaviller's contemptuous offer would not only be to confess a humiliating failure, it would mean pocketing a loss that would cripple the young firm for the time being.
Peter would say: "Lose it if you must, but lose it fighting." This thought was like an inspiration to Ambrose.