On every side the nightmare of his obligations confronted him, for who was there that he could owe whom he did not already owe?
He was notorious for his inability to pay his debts.

This notoriety was hurting his professional standing, and now if Gilmore carried out his threat he must look forward to the shame of a public exposure.

His very reputation for common honesty was at stake.
He wondered what men did in a crisis such as this.

He wondered what happened to them when they could do nothing more.

Usually he was fertile in expedients, but to-day his brain seemed wholly inert.