“I don’t mind taking you,” said Kester, quickly.
“Done!” said Osmond.
Lionel could not repress a movement of annoyance.
Both he and Osmond were good billiard-players, but he was the better of the two.
This however was a point which Osmond, who was proud of his ability with the cue, would never concede. With Lionel billiard-playing was an easy, natural gift; with Osmond it was the result of intense study and application.
With the former it seemed the easiest thing in the world to play well—with the latter one of the most difficult. They had played much together during Osmond’s visit to Park Newton, but Osmond could never lose with equanimity. He became disagreeable and quarrelsome the moment the game began to go against him, and, rather than have a scene under his own roof, Lionel would often play carelessly and allow his opponent to win game after game. Such had been his intention in the present case till Kester foolishly accepted Osmond’s bet. After that, to have lost the game would have been to lose Kester’s money also; and, foolish as was the bet, Lionel did not feel disposed to let Osmond benefit by it. Besides, to win Osmond’s money was to touch him in his only vulnerable point, and it seemed to Lionel that he fully deserved to be made to smart.
The game began and went on with varying success. Osmond had drank far too much wine to play well, and Lionel, in a mood of utter indifference, missed stroke after stroke in a way that made Kester groan inwardly with vexation. Lionel, in truth, was disgusted with himself and disgusted with his opponent. “I’d far sooner follow the plough all my life on Gatehouse Farm, than be condemned to associate very much with men like this one,” he said to himself. “And yet the world calls him a gentleman.”
“Call the game, St. George,” cried Osmond, in his most insolent tone.
“Seventy-five—fifty-two, and your royal highness to play,” said Kester.
“None of your sneers,” said Osmond. “Seventy-five—fifty-two, eh?—Well, put me on three more—and three more—very carefully. A miss, by Jove! Ought to have had that middle pocket.”