"The pull on our purse strings is very great at present," said the man.
"Cut the strings," retorted Peter.
"Cut them, you all say; but that won't preserve enough to pay the fiddlers," responded the man.
"Fiddlers be damned," roared Peter; "we must get Jim Dalls out of the country."
"Is he wanting to squeal?" asked the man, with upraised eyebrows.
"He is ready," answered Peter.
"Can't he be staved off by bluff?" asked the man.
"He's best in Europe."
"Is he going there?"
"He's going."