"Let us see. Do you know that Sellien had the money with him when you left Dollan?"
"I am sure of it; as he did not suspect it came from me, he told me in a walk we took after dinner that Brandow had paid him, and showed me the packet, which he took out of the breast-pocket of his coat. I also saw it there during the whole evening--not without some little anxiety. I feared he might be tempted to stake the money. Fortunately he always won."
"So he was gambling. Who was the loser?"
"Brandow."
"Did he lose much?"
"I think he lost five thousand thalers to Redebas, who was the only person that had the courage to make a stand against so rash an adversary."
"Of course he did not pay him on the spot."
"Certainly not; and from that very circumstance arose the quarrel which ended in the others leaving the house in a rage."
"Did you take any part in the dispute?"
"Oh, no; Sellien perhaps was a little mixed up with it; at least Brandow made it the pretext for the rudeness that drove us also from the house."