In half an hour he had before him a pile of notes and gold representing about three hundred pounds.
His face, however, was sphinx-like. Inveterate gambler that he was, he never allowed his countenance to betray his emotion. Inwardly, however, he was elated at his success, and when the stranger, a middle-aged Russian Baron, proposed to stake an amount equal to his winnings, he quickly welcomed the proposal.
In an instant he was on the alert. Now was the moment to perform one of his clever card-sharping tricks, the trick by which he had so often won big sums from the unsuspecting.
He placed two one-hundred franc notes aside in case he should lose; then the cards were dealt, and the game played.
Only at that moment did the “crook” realise what an astute player the stranger was.
He tried to cheat, and, though he performed the trick, nevertheless his opponent actually beat him.
He bit his lip in anger.
Then, pushing the money across to the Baron, he rose from the table and bade his companions good-night, though the sun was beginning to shine in between the drawn curtains of the stuffy room.