covery of some popular fraud; and that the whole race of
Beckys now are detected swindlers,--nothing less."

"And what if they are? Is that going to prevent their cheating? Hasn't
the world always its crop of flats coming out in succession like green
peas? What did he turn to after that?"

"Then we had a little about the turf."

"He don't know anything about the turf!" said Grog, with intense
contempt.

"I 'm not so sure of that," said Beecher, cautiously.

"Did he speak of _me_ at all?" said Grog, with a peculiar grin.

"No; only to ask if you were the same Captain Davis that was mentioned
in that affair at Brighton."

"And what did you say?"

"Said! Not knowing, could n't tell, Master Grog. Knew you were a great
friend of my brother Lackington's, and always hand and glove with
Blanchard and the swells."

"And how did he take that?"

"Said something about two of the same name, and changed the subject."

Davis drew near the table, and taking up the cards began to shuffle
them slowly, like one seeking some excuse for a moment of uninterrupted
reflection. "I've found out the way that Yankee fellow does the king,"
said he, at last. "It's not the common bridge that everybody knows.
It's a Mississippi touch, and a very neat one. Cut them now wherever you
like."

Beecher cut the cards with all due care, and leaned eagerly over the
table.

"King of diamonds!" cried Grog, slapping the card on the board.

"Do it again," said Beecher, admiringly; and once more Davis performed
the dexterous feat.

"It's a nick!" cried Beecher, examining the edge of the card minutely.

"It ain't no such thing!" said Davis, angrily. "I'd give you ten years
to find it out, and twenty to do it, and-you 'd fail in both."

"Let's see the dodge, Grog," said Beecher, half-coaxingly.

"You don't see _my_ hand till you put _yours_ on the table," said Davis,
fiercely. Then crossing his arms before him, and fixing his red
fiery eyes on Beecher's face, he went on, "What do you mean by this
fencing--just tell me what you mean by it?"

"I don't understand you," said Beecher, whose features were now of ashy
paleness.

"Then you shall understand me!" cried Davis, with an oath. "Do you want
me to believe that Dunn had you to dine with him all alone, just to talk
about politics, of which you know nothing, or books, of which you know
less; that he 'd give you four precious hours of a Sunday evening to
bear your opinions about men or women or