"Is there to be a prayer-meeting this evening?" asked Mr. Lynchpinne of the man who sat behind the table.
"Of course."
"At what time?"
"Half past seven. What have you there?" continued the man behind the table.
"A dove who has the yellow."
"Right; we will begin the meeting now then," added the man, producing a little silver box, open on one side, so that I could see it contained a pack of cards.
This was the first intimation I had that anything was wrong. The sight of the cards roused my suspicions, as well they might. I had heard the snap of the bolt as the man locked the door when we entered. I looked about me, and discovered that there were no windows in the room, though there was another door besides that by which we had entered.
"Put that up," said Mr. Lynchpinne. "You know that I never gamble."
"I thought you wanted to open the meeting."