“Will beat us at any rate. It will be no worse for us. Besides they may possibly ask us to play here.”
“I can play no more to-night, Filippo, I am so tired.”
Phil knew very little of sickness, or he might have seen that Giacomo was going to be ill. Exposure, fatigue, and privation had been too much for his strength. He had never been robust, and he had been subjected to trials that would have proved hard for one much stronger to bear.
When he had once determined to remain in the comfortable hotel, Phil leaned back in his chair also, and decided to enjoy all the comfort attainable. What though there was a beating in prospect?
He had before him two or three hours of rest and relief from the outside cold. He was something of a philosopher, and chose not to let future evil interfere with present good.
Near the two boys sat two young men—merchants from the interior of New York State, who were making a business visit to the metropolis.
“Well, Gardner,” said the first, “where shall we go to-night?”
“Why need we go anywhere?”
“I thought you might like to go to some place of amusement.”
“So I would if the weather were less inclement. The most comfortable place is by the fire.”