Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/81

Rh dealer at a Rouge et Noir table, and now belonged to a Bank, which played all comers, at "the two sevens." Cards were accordingly refused. On some genteel pretence, and the refusal would no doubt have thrown our spark into a fit of madness, (if we may judge by his present behaviour) but from the consolation of a promise, that tomorrow cards would be provided. During this paroxysm he paid the bill for dinner and wine, with an air which bespoke utter indifference for the sum total.

Good wine with good company, quickly digest a good dinner, and make the minutes roll merrily away. No time seemed to have elapsed since dinner, when that harbinger of ill-news, the waiter entered, with the appalling information that the horses were putting to; but there was still a good quarter of an hour to spare.

"A quarter of an hour!" exclaimed the Leg: "damnation! What horses?"

"Mail, Sir!" smirkingly replied waiter.

"I have taken my place, and must depart. You may recollect I told you yesterday I should go the moment my business was finished: the fortunate postponement of dinner, enabled me happily to complete the negociation I was upon," Said Mr. Bd, the intended dupe; and he did