Although I did not believe a word of this, for I was now fully convinced that the landlord was also in league with these scoundrels, I made no further allusion to it, having made up my mind to a certain plan by which I hoped to regain possession of the money and make my escape from this den.
I instinctively knew that a proposal for further play was going to be made me on the plea of giving me a chance of recouping my losses, and for the purposes of the desperate plan I had decided upon this was exactly what I wanted.
“Now, my boy,” began the leader, in his friendly way, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do to give you a chance. I’ll lay you ten pounds to two pounds on the next round, and only you and I will play. You shall watch me as closely as you like, and no doubt you will win.”
“I will agree,” I assented, “on condition that the door is unlocked and the key brought inside and placed on the table.”
It was a bold move on my part, and I trembled for the answer, because upon this one point depended to a very great extent the success of the desperate plan I had thought of to escape, and at the same time regain my employer’s money.
Evidently sure of their quarry, and all unsuspicious as to my intentions, the trio at once agreed to the proposal.
The landlord was called—and bullied—the door unlocked, and the key placed on the table by my side.
Then the cards were laid out afresh, and I made another effort to “spot” the “lady,” although I was morally certain that I should fail.
I did, and handed over two more pound notes, which the dealer placed with the five others, lying loosely by his side.
In my jacket pocket I had a large sailors’ clasp knife, with a murderous-looking blade nearly five inches long, and while my vis-à-vis was picking up the cards preparatory to another deal, I having consented to play for the same stakes again, I surreptitiously got this weapon out and opened it under cover of the table.