Part 49 (1/2)
”I say, you fellows,” protested one of the bystanders, ”you'll smash up this club--you'll have the police shutting it up as a gambling-h.e.l.l.
Besides, you're breaking the rules; you'll have the committee expelling you.”
”What rules?” Lionel's opponent asked, wheeling round.
”The amount of the stakes, for one thing; and playing after three o'clock, for another,” was the answer.
”I'll bet you ten pounds there's no limit as to time in the rules of this club--I mean as regards card-playing,” the young man said, boldly.
”I take you.”
The bell was rung; a waiter was sent to fetch a List of Members; and then he who had accepted the bet read out these solemn words:
”Rule XIX. No higher stakes than guinea points shall ever be played for, nor shall any card or billiard playing be permitted in the club after 3 A.M.”
”There's your confounded money; what a fool of a club to let you stay here all night if you like, and to stop card-playing at three!” He turned to Lionel. ”Well, Moore, what did you say: twenty pounds? I'll just make it thirty, if you like, and see if I can't get back that ten.”
”Right with you, Johnny.”
The young man dealt the two hands: he found he had a pair of fours, Lionel nothing but a king. The winner took over the loser's I.O.U. for the 30, and then said,
”Well, now, I'll go you double or quits.”
”Oh, certainly,” said Lionel, ”if you like. But I don't think you should. You are the winner; stick to what you've got.”
”Oh, I'll give you a chance to get it all back,” the young man said; and this time Lionel dealt the cards. And again the latter lost--having to subst.i.tute an I.O.U. for 60 for its predecessor.
”Well, now, I'll give you one more chance,” the winner said, with a laugh.
”I'm hanged if you shall, Johnny!” said one of the bystanders; and he had the courage to intervene and s.n.a.t.c.h up the cards. ”Come away to your beds, boys, and stop that nonsense! You've lost enough, Moore; and this fellow would go on till Doomsday.”
But that insatiate young man was not to be beaten, after all. When they were separating in the street below he drew Lionel aside.
”Look here, old man, why should we be deprived of our final little flutter? I want to give you a chance of getting back the whole thing.”
”Not at all, my good fellow,” Lionel said, with a smile. ”Why don't you keep the money and rest content? Do you think I grudge it to you?”
”Come--an absolutely last double or quits,” said the other, and he pulled out a coin from his pocket and put it between his two palms.
”Heads or tails?--and then go home happy!”
”Well, since you challenge me, I'll go this once more, and this once more only. I call a tail.”
The upper hand was removed: in the dull lamp-light the dusky gold coin was examined.
”It's a head,” said Lionel, ”so that's all right, and it's you who are to go home happy. I'll settle up with you to-morrow evening. Do you want this hansom?--I don't: I think I'd rather walk. Good-night, Johnny.”
It was a long price to pay for a few hours of distraction and forgetfulness; still, he had had these; and the loss of the money, _per se_, did not affect him much. He walked away home. When he reached his rooms, there were some letters for him lying on the table; he took them and looked at them; he noticed one handwriting that used to be rather more familiar. This letter he opened first.
AIVRON LODGE, CAMPDEN HILL, _Feb._ 23.
”MY DEAR MR. MOORE,--It is really quite shocking the way you have neglected us of late, and I, at least, cannot imagine any reason.