"Spots or pictures?" said Cleveland.
"Pictures first, I suppose," said Kingsley, "till the blood gets up.
The ivories then as the most rapid. But these pictures are really
so tempting. A new supply, Philip!"
"Just received, sir," said the other.
"And how shall we begin?" demanded Cleveland, drawing a handful of
bills, gold, and silver, from his pocket; "yellow, white, or brown?"
It was thus, I perceived, that gold, silver, and paper money, were
described.
"Shall it be child's play, or--"
"Man's, man's!" replied Kingsley, with some impatience "I am
for beginning with a cool hundred," and, to my consternation, he
unfolded the roll he had of me, counted out the bills, refolded them
and placed them in a saucer, where they were soon covered with a
like sum by his antagonist. I was absolutely sickened, and stared
aghast upon my reckless companion. He looked at me with a smile.
"To your own game, Clifford. You will find men enough for your
money in either of the rooms. Should you run short, come to me."
Thus confidently did he speak; yet he had actually but the single
hundred which he had so boldly staked on the first issue. I thought
him lost; but he better knew his game than I. He also knew his man.
The eyes of Cleveland were on the huge wallet in reserve, of which
the "cool hundred" might naturally be considered a mere sample. I
had not courage to wait for the result, but wandered off, with a
feeling not unallied to terror, into an adjoining apartment.