floundered in his misery, sobbed about it like a child. The hand
of misfortune had stripped him naked, and one man, at least, saw
him as he really was.

"I can't stand it, Laverick, - I couldn't face them all. It's too
cruel - too horrible! Eighteen thousand pounds gone in one week,
forty thousand in a month! Forty thousand pounds! Oh, my God!"

He writhed in agony. The man on the other side of the table said
nothing.

"If we could only have held on a little longer! 'Unions' must turn!
They will turn! Laverick, have you tried all your friends? Think!
Have you tried them all? Twenty thousand pounds would see us through
it. We should get our own money back - I am sure of it. There's
Rendell, Laverick. He'd do anything for you. You're always shooting
or playing cricket with him. Have you asked him, Laverick? He'd
never miss the money."

"You and I see things differently, Morrison," Laverick answered.
"Nothing would induce me to borrow money from a friend."

"But at a time like this," Morrison pleaded passionately. "Every
one does it sometimes. He'd be glad to help you. I know he would.
Have you ever thought what it will be like, Laverick, to be
hammered?"

"I have," Laverick admitted wearily. "God knows it seems as
terrible a thing to me as it can to you! But if we go down, we
must go down with clean hands. I've no faith in your infernal