No wonder that his frown grew heavier as he realized more completely the helplessness of his position.

He was a man unaccustomed to failure, whose career through life had been one smooth road of success and triumph.

His touch seemed to have transformed the very dust heaps into gold, and the barren wastes into prosperous cities.
The shadow of failure had never fallen across his path.

Now that it had come he was bewildered.

An ordinary reverse he could have met resolutely enough.