No one had a better proposal to make; the thing looked fair and square. They were accustomed to follow his lead.
The six men advanced to the table. The others gathered round and gazed excitedly over their shoulders.
Varley Howard commenced to deal with his famous grace and facility. He dealt to himself at last.
“Oh, you stand in, Varley?” said MacGrath.
“I do,” said Varley Howard in his slow way. “Does any one object?”
No one objected, and he proceeded with the dealing until the pack was exhausted.
“Turn up your cards and count,” he said, and his quick eye checked each man’s hand.
Then he turned up his own cards and remarked, quietly:
“I have won by an ace. The child’s mine.”
No one questioned his decision; no one murmured. He collected the cards as listlessly as usual.