"Out with it, then," said Mr. Anerley. "Everybody in the house is well in health; anything else does not much matter."
"Miall & Welling are down."
The old man put back his wineglass on the table.
"Miall & Welling's bank is down?" he said, slowly.
"Yes."
"Are you sure of it?"
"There is their circular."
He read the paper carefully, and laid it down.
"They say," said Will, "that their affairs are in a terrible plight—quite hopeless."
"That means that I have not a farthing of money beyond what is in the house."