“Couldn’t you?” he snarled. “Play a hundred a trick and a thousand on the rub, losing steadily for five hours, and see what you think of it.”
My uncle was evidently struck by the haggard look upon the other’s face.
“I hope it’s not very bad,” he said.
“Bad enough. It won’t bear talking about. By the way, Tregellis, have you got your man for this fight yet?”
“No.”
“You seem to be hanging in the wind a long time. It’s play or pay, you know. I shall claim forfeit if you don’t come to scratch.”
“If you will name your day I shall produce my man, Sir Lothian,” said my uncle, coldly.
“This day four weeks, if you like.”
“Very good. The 18th of May.”
“I hope to have changed my name by then!”