The noble captain saw through it clearly enough, and, although half tipsy, gave Alick an ominous but eloquent wink, and squeezed his hand in token of friendship.
“Come along, my boy,” said Alick, taking the captain’s arm. “Come along, old boy; don’t let’s pass a public without a drop or two; they keep the best old wines in the whole kingdom up this street. Come on, now, only one more, captain, and then we’ll return. I’m sure to win this match; it is for a large sum, you know. But are you fly to a thing or two? Well, then, listen to me.”
Mr. Alick, half laughing and half hiccuping, explained the little game again.
“Old Gingles knows I can beat him now—Lord bless you, I have improved wonderfully of late—but the ‘gentlemen’ won’t believe it, and will back Gingles to any amount. I shall beat him by long odds! I heard him confess it himself; he told me so to-night on the sly, and wouldn’t play the game at all, only some gentlemen agreed to stand most of the money for him. Pretty dodge, ain’t it? Well, I’ll play the match, if I have to pawn the rags off my back. This night’s work will supply me with small change, my boy, and then I shall say good-bye to the card table, quit London, begin to lead a new life, and be ‘a good boy’ for the future.”
“Half the world is made up of knaves, Alick, my boy; the other half are fools,” said the captain, hiccuping, and with a great air of wisdom.
When Alick returned to the card-room he looked as calm and sober as a judge.
Old Gingles, however, appeared nervous, and unwilling to play.
But the gentlemen present insisted on his doing so; but when Alick demanded that he should play without spectacles the old man got into a terrible rage, and refused to do so.
However, after a stormy discussion, in which it was insinuated that old Gingles had some dishonest motive in wearing them, he threw them upon the floor and smashed the spectacles all to pieces.
The game commenced, and heavy wagers were laid on Alick’s winning it.