Not very many return from a place where we owe fair sums of money (1,3)

I believe the answer is:

a few

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'not very many' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for a few that I've seen before include "Certainly not many" , "Sundry" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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