was an end to their
speculations for the rest of that term, and by the next Mr Slam junior
would have decamped from the paternal abode, for when the racing season
commenced he flew at far higher game than the purses of rustics and
school-boys.

"Can't come no more, can't yer?" said Josiah. "I'm sorry for that,
though I expect I should be a loser, for you play well and knows a thing
or two, you do. But it's the sport I care for more than the money, and
I should have liked yer to have another chance. I know what I did once
when I were in that fix; I just took and pawned my watch, and with the
money I got on it I won back all I'd lost and more on the back of it, in
a brace of shakes, and then took the ticker out again all comfortable."

"But there is no pawnbroker near here."

"No, in course not, and such a thing might not suit gents like you
neither. Not but lords and markisses does it often; and if ever you
really did want a pound or two very bad, for a short time, there's my
father, as goes over to Cornchester perpetually, would pop anything
light and small for yer, and bring yer back the money and ticket safe
enough."

The hint took; old Slam was intrusted with Edwards' watch that evening,
and shortly afterwards with Saurin's; and later on with all the pins and
rings they possessed, though these were not worth much.

This may all sound accountable in Edwards, who was so weak and soft; but
Saurin, though vicious, was no fool, and such excessively absurd conduct
may appear to you inconsistent with his character. But that is because
you do not know the rapidly enervating and at the same time fascinating
mastery which gambling has on the mind of one who gives way to it. It
is a sort of demoniacal possession; the kind-hearted, amiable man
becomes hard and selfish, the generous man mean and grasping, the
strong-minded superstitious under its influence. It may seem strange to
enact laws to prevent people from risking their own money if they
choose, but every civilised government has found it absolutely necessary
to do so. For the losing gamester always thinks that with a little more
money to risk he would certainly win all back again, and the thought
maddens him so that he will not even shrink from crime to obtain it.

One day when the pair were penniless, and had no more means of raising
money, young Slam generously offered them a loan, only requiring them to
sign a paper acknowledging the transaction. To prev