"Anyhow, I can't win," said Purvis. "The best I can do is to halve the match with you, Mr. Ricordo."
"But I have a chance of winning," said Sprague. "By the way, signore, we've had nothing on the game. What do you say to a stake on this hole?"
"No, Mr. Sprague, I never play for stakes, except the stake of life."
"What do you mean?"
"A game is always more than a game to me. It has destiny in it. Thus we are playing for stakes, great stakes."
"What are they?"
"Ah, who can tell? Perhaps for heaven, perhaps for hell."
"Oh, I say!"
They were now standing on the eighteenth tee, and the green was near the club-house. Close to the flag they saw a woman and a man.
"Do you know who that is on the green?" Ricordo asked of the caddy who had made his tee and was moving away.