Vance shrugged almost imperceptibly.
“The pot, sir, is yours.” He smiled pleasantly at Spotswoode, and put down his hand face up, to establish his openers. He had held four aces!
“Gad! That’s poker!” exclaimed Allen, chuckling.
“Poker?” echoed Markham. “To lay down four aces with all that money at stake?”
Cleaver also grunted his astonishment, and Mannix pursed his lips disgustedly.
“I don’t mean any offense, y’ understand, Mr. Vance,” he said. “But looking at that play from a strictly business standpoint, I’d say you quit too soon.”
Spotswoode glanced up.
“You gentlemen wrong Mr. Vance,” he said. “He played his hand perfectly. His withdrawal, even with four aces, was scientifically correct.”
“Sure it was,” agreed Allen. “Oh, boy! What a battle that was!”
Spotswoode nodded and, turning to Vance, said: