“Very well, since you insist upon it—three thousand.”

“Five thousand.”

“Five thousand five hundred.”

“Ten thousand.”

One of the higher officers, Major Robertson, laid his hand lightly upon the shoulder of the rash gambler.

“That is too much, Irwin. I do not care to interfere in these things, and since you do not belong to my regiment, I can only speak to you as a comrade, not as a superior. But I am afraid you will be in difficulties if you lose.”

Angrily the Captain fired up—

“What do you mean by that, sir? If your words are intended to express a doubt as to my solvency—”

“Well! well—I did not mean to offend you. After all, you must know best yourself what you are justified in doing.”

Irwin repeated with a defiant air—