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In either case, his is not the head to deal with it, for he's blind set on the woman and won't listen to reason."

This thought prevailed in the end, and I went to shave him in the morning just like a man got up from a long night's sleep. I found him irritable and not over disposed to talk; and I could see that he had been losing pretty heavily the night before. In fact, he was almost dressed before he said any thing at all, and then he spoke short and almost curt.

"Is it good quarters ye have below?" he asked.

"The best," said I; "they've put us out at the little place in the park yonder."

"Ay, 'tis the picture of a house," said he, "and some very pretty company in it."

"That's so, sir," said I; "there must be a wonderful lot of money on this very landing."

"Ye speak truth," cried he; "the duke alone has enough to buy a kingdom."

"So I've been told," said I, trying my best to draw him out; "and a rare one for cards he is, they tell me."

"I'll not deny it," he exclaimed, as he took the towel from my hands; "he plays like a gentleman."

"Like a what, sir?" said I, sudden, for I couldn't keep the thing back.

"Like a gentleman," he answered, very slow and deliberately, "and it's me that should know, for I lost three hundred to him last night."