For instance, he had averaged the _Shannon's_ previous performances, and had calculated on her arrival too nicely.

She was a fortnight overdue, and that delay brought peril.
He had also counted upon getting news of the _Proserpine._ But not a word had reached Lloyd's as yet.
At this very crisis came the panic of '66.

Overend and Gurney broke; and Wardlaw's experience led him to fear that, sooner or later, there would be a run on every bank in London.

Now he had borrowed 80,000 pounds at one bank, and 35,000 pounds at another.

And, without his ships, could not possibly pay a quarter of the money.