"'Of course,' said Lescolette, and he shoved in a yellow chip to match Cuthbert's.
"'How many?' asked Lescolette, ready to dish out cards.
"'None,' said Cuthbert, who looked queer and unnatural with his white countenance and glowing eyes.
"'So strong as that on the go-in?' said Lescolette, elevating his eyebrows. 'You have me seined. I require a card.' And he served himself with it.
"I pretended to have a bit of business to attend to behind Cuthbert's chair, so I could glance at his hand. He had four aces. I couldn't get behind Lescolette's chair, for three of the players' friends were seated behind him. Lescolette didn't make any sign either of elation or disappointment when he looked at the card he had drawn. He looked up for a bet, for it was up to Cuthbert.
"'A thousand dollars, make it, Joe,' said Cuthbert.
"'Oh, I'm not in so deeply that I can't pull out of this pot,' said Lescolette good-naturedly. 'However, seeing it's you, your thousand is sighted, and it's $5000 more.'
"This was precisely what Cuthbert wanted.
"'Now you're racing,' said he. 'Ten thousand more, Joseph Marie.'
"Lescolette looked up at Cuthbert suddenly.