The trade fell away from the large godowns, and the godowns themselves rotted piecemeal.

The old man's banker, Hudig of Macassar, failed, and with this went the whole available capital.

The profits of past years had been swallowed up in Lingard's exploring craze.

Lingard was in the interior--perhaps dead--at all events giving no sign of life.

Almayer stood alone in the midst of those adverse circumstances, deriving only a little comfort from the companionship of his little daughter, born two years after the marriage, and at the time some six years old.