It was, after all, the great chances of life that made existence endurable.

Its only anodyne lay in effort and feverish struggle.

And his chance for work had come! Half an hour later he was rowed ashore, with a good Havana cigar between his teeth and three good English sovereigns in his pocket.

As he made his way up to his hotel he could feel some inner part of him still struggling and shrinking back from the enticing avenue of activity which his new knowledge was opening up before him.
He smiled, now, a little grimly, as he sat under the rustling palms and thought of those old, unnecessary scruples.

He had been holding himself to a compact which no longer existed.