“I go there every night,” said the heavy one. “I flatter myself I know the game, sir. When I’m ahead I quit. And I generally quit ahead.” He clapped his hand to his pocket, and then felt inside his coat. Judy expected bank notes to appear, but instead he produced a gold cigar case.
“Will you smoke, sir? I reckon these are superior to what you can obtain hereabouts.”
The old man waved them away.
“If they were made on Olympus for Jove himself, I couldn’t smoke one,” he said.
“Too bad!” commiserated the other, taking one himself. “You used to be fond of a good cigar in the old days, sir.”
“Fond!” exclaimed Stephen. “Do you call that fond! I’d sell my immortal soul for one now, if it weren’t for my doctor.”
“Well,” said Mr. Colebridge, turning to Judy, “I mustn’t detain you. It’s been a real pleasure to meet you, Miss Pendleton, and to see you again, sir. Suppose I come around Monday, and take you both to Grasse? That’s just a pleasant, easy little run. Say about two-thirty. I hope you will do me the honor, Miss Pendleton.”
There seemed no reason to refuse.
“If Mr. de Lisle’s well enough—and I feel sure he will be,” she said, shaking Mr. Colebridge’s proffered hand. “It’s very kind of you.”
“On Monday, then. I shall look forward to that with real pleasure.”