"Did you- ?" He paused, not knowing what euphemism to supply for the thing his lordship must have done.
His lordship looked up, sneering almost in self-derision.

"I did," he answered.

"To tell you all--I accepted twenty thousand pounds' worth of South Sea stock when the company was first formed, for which I did not pay other than by lending the scheme the support of my name at a time when such support was needed.

I was of the ministry, then, you will remember." Mr.Caryll considered him again, and wondered a moment at the confession, till he understood by intuition that the matter and its consequences were so deeply preying upon the man's mind that he could not refrain from giving vent to his fears.
"And now you know," his lordship added, "why my hopes are all in King James.

Ruin stares me in the face.