The meal was finally concluded. Oscar had placed his end of it well and appeared about as jolly as a man should appear who had imbibed his share of several bottles of wine.
"What shall we do?" asked Girard. "I don't wish to go to bed; I prefer having a nice time. Can't we go somewhere and have a jolly little game of draw?"
Oscar was not loath. He desired to let the men draw him, believing that while they were playing their little trick he might work a little on his own hook.
"Hang it!" said our hero, "I am not in the habit of staying away from my home all night, but since I've started in I don't care what I do for the rest of the night."
"Where can we go?" asked Thatford.
"To some hotel. We will take a room," suggested Oscar. His suggestion was only a "flyer." He knew the men did not wish to go to a hotel. It was a part of their game to draw him to some place where they could open up the scheme they had in their minds.
"I have a friend who always keeps open house."
Thatford laughed and said:
"Yes, a pretty close friend. You want us to go to your bachelor quarters."
"Well, why not at my rooms? We can play as long as we please and turn in when we get ready."