There were quite a few persons in the lower rooms, and among them Mr. Opdyke. He was standing over the rouge-et-noir table, and had already taken a hand in the game.
I walked boldly up to the table and joined in.
Opdyke looked up at me as I bought the chips, but his glance was only momentary. It was quite evident that he did not suspect.
We played out four rounds, and to my astonishment I won.
I could see that Opdyke was getting worked up, and I threw down the cards and walked away.
I was deeply perplexed.
How could I accomplish my purpose without raising a scene?
There was one way which had suggested itself to me at the outset, and for want of a better plan I resolved to try that.
Now before I entered Big Mike’s at all, I had walked around on the side street and taken a careful survey of the ground.