"No, all serene."
"Anything you need my advice on?"
"No, just a routine conference with the navigator."
"Then pull up a chair and get in the game."
Nearly half the chips were piled in front of Jasperson, and across from him a modest heap sat before the professor. At his right the baggy-eyed only son of a deutonium millionaire fingered his dwindling pile indifferently, and on his left Dr. Willoughby stared unbelievingly at his few remaining chips, three blues and a couple of whites.
"I'll just watch," said the Captain. "You know I'm not much of a gambler. Chess is my game."
"Oh, come on, Josiah. I insist that you play. Prove that you've got red blood in your veins."
Evans hesitated, but remained standing. "I'd rather just look on."
"Now look here, Captain. Doesn't the Star Line always try to please its passengers? Well, I'm a passenger. Or is it just your native caution that makes you afraid of losing?" His laugh did not entirely disguise the irritation in his voice.
"All right, anything to oblige," said Evans wearily, pulling up a chair. "What stakes are you playing for?"