White was paid about fifty pounds (6)
I believe the answer is:
pallid
'white' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'paid about fifty pounds' is the wordplay.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'fifty' becomes 'l' (Roman numeral).
'pounds' becomes 'l' (L can represent the monetary pound).
'l'+'l'='ll'
'paid' going around 'll' is 'PALLID'.
'was' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pallid that I've seen before include "Colourless, wan" , "Pale, insipid" , "lacking colour or brightness" , "Sickly pale" , "Without healthy colour" .)