"Poor man! what pitiless betters!"
"The English are very strange in their betting proclivities; they bet about everything. There is a Betting Club to which I will introduce you, if you like."
"Do they speak French there?"
"Most certainly, for it is composed of men of wit and mark."
"What do they do?"
"They talk and argue, and if one man brings forward a proposition which another denies, and one backs his opinion, the other has to bet too, on pain of a fine which goes to the common fund."
"Introduce me to this delightful club, by all means; it will make my fortune, for I shall always take care to be on the right side."
"You had better be careful; they are wary birds."
"But to return to the dying man; what will be done to his antagonist?"
"His hand will be examined, and if it is found to be just the same as yours or mine it will be marked, and he will be let go."