"There is no appeal. The case is ended."
"Ended!" The financier gasped.
"Ended."
Bivens suddenly threw his hand to his forehead, staggered and sank to the floor.
A doctor who was near rushed to his side and lifted his head into his wife's arms.
"What is it? Has he fainted, doctor?" she whispered, glancing toward the door through which Stuart had just passed.
"He has had a stroke of paralysis, Madam, I fear," was the serious answer.
CHAPTER I