Quietly at first, and then with growing heat, he reviewed the advantages of backing out.
It involved a loss; but (come to think of it) no such great loss after all; only that of the tontine, which had been always a toss-up, which at bottom he had never really expected.

He reminded himself of that eagerly; he congratulated himself upon his constant moderation.

He had never really expected the tontine; he had never even very definitely hoped to recover his seven thousand eight hundred pounds; he had been hurried into the whole thing by Michael's obvious dishonesty.

Yes, it would probably be better to draw back from this high-flying venture, settle back on the leather business-- 'Great God!' cried Morris, bounding in the hansom like a Jack-in-a-box.
'I have not only not gained the tontine--I have lost the leather business!' Such was the monstrous fact.

He had no power to sign; he could not draw a cheque for thirty shillings.