As soon as the budget is voted the dissolution is sure to take place." But Nathan, sued, could no longer obtain even usury; Florine, with all her personal property attached, could count on nothing but inspiring a passion in some fool who might not appear at the right moment.

Nathan's friends were all men without money and without credit.

An arrest for debt would destroy his hopes of a political career; and besides all this, he had bound himself to do an immense amount of dramatic work for which he had already received payment.

He could see no bottom to the gulf of misery that lay before him, into which he was about to roll.

In presence of such threatened evil his boldness deserted him.