Norris Vine is on the brink of ruin.

If I turn the screw to-morrow, he must come down." He sipped his wine for a moment thoughtfully.

Then a grim, hard smile parted his lips.
"No wonder," he said, "that my friends are still in something of a panic." Virginia rose in her place.

It seemed as though her appearance was woebegone enough to soften the heart of any man, but Phineas Duge looked into her face unmoved.
"Uncle," she said, "I am no longer any use to you.

I think that I had better go home." He took out his pocket-book, looked through its contents, and passed it across the table to her.
"As you will," he answered.