“You can afford to play?” asked Bush.
“Naturally.”
“You can stand another run of bad luck?”
“I can afford to lose one rubber,” answered Hornblower.
“Oh.”
“But on the other hand if I win the first I can afford to lose the next two. And if I win the first and second I can afford to lose the next three. And so on.”
“Oh.”
That did not sound too hopeful; and Hornblower’s gleaming eyes looking at him from his wooden countenance were postively disturbing. Bush shifted uneasily in his seat and changed the conversation again.
“They’re putting the Hastings into commission again,” he said. “Had you heard?”
“Yes. Peacetime establishment—three lieutenants, and all three selected two months back.”