"P'r'aps you 'd better show the gemman up-stairs," said the follower, hesitatingly, to his master.
"You pay extra up-stairs," quoth Vice; "which shall it be?"
"I have no money, sir, to spare—I know the extortionating practices which "——
"Oh, come along then!" replied Vice, insolently; and in a minute or two Mr. Aubrey found himself in a tolerably large, but low room, at the back of the house, lit by three or four candles. There were some ten or twelve persons in it, who were smoking, drinking, reading the newspapers, playing at cards, dice, pitchfarthing, and so forth. All seemed in good spirits, and suspended for a moment their various occupations to scrutinize the newcomer—on whom the door was in a twinkling closed and locked.
"Now, sir, just in time to cut in," said a thin pale man—his breath redolent of the stench of gin—stepping briskly up to him from a table at which he and two others had just begun to play a rubber. "Now, sir," he continued in a confident tone, running the edges of the cards rapidly through his fingers with the air of an adept, and then proffering the pack to Mr. Aubrey.
"I do not play," replied Aubrey, in a low tone.
"Better take a card—drive dull care away; you'll be devilish dull here without play of some sort!"
"I do not play, sir—I certainly shall not," repeated Mr. Aubrey, somewhat peremptorily.
"Only half-crown points—can't hurt you," he continued flippantly; till Mr. Aubrey walked from him with an air of disgust towards another part of the room.
"You're a liar!" said one of two men playing at drafts to the other, a dispute having arisen about the game, as Mr. Aubrey passed them.