"The devil!"
"(That's a teasing stroke: one of the worst losing hazards. You must take care.)"
This last remark, though applied to the game, was too applicable to Cecil's own condition for him not to wince. The captain's eye was upon him.
"What a d—d shame!" exclaimed Cecil, "for a man with an entailed estate to make no provision for his children. It's positively monstrous!"
"Horrible, indeed!"
"Why, what is to become of them at his death?"
"They will be penniless," gravely replied the captain, as he sent the red ball whizzing into the pocket.
"I wonder he is not ashamed to look them in the face," said Cecil, duly impressed with the enormity.
"He trusts, I suppose, to their marrying rich men," carelessly added the captain. "(Game! I win everything!)"
Cecil declined to play any longer. He went up into his own room, and locked himself in, there to review his situation, the aspect of which the recent intelligence had wonderfully altered.