both looked narrowly at the old man,
who, with his eyes fixed upon the fire, sat brooding over it, yet
listening eagerly--as it seemed from a certain involuntary motion of
the head, or twitching of the face from time to time--to all they said.

'My advice,' said Jowl, lying down again with a careless air, 'is
plain--I have given it, in fact. I act as a friend. Why should I help
a man to the means perhaps of winning all I have, unless I considered
him my friend? It's foolish, I dare say, to be so thoughtful of the
welfare of other people, but that's my constitution, and I can't help
it; so don't blame me, Isaac List.'

'I blame you!' returned the person addressed; 'not for the world, Mr
Jowl. I wish I could afford to be as liberal as you; and, as you say,
he might pay it back if he won--and if he lost--'

'You're not to take that into consideration at all,' said Jowl.

'But suppose he did (and nothing's less likely, from all I know of
chances), why, it's better to lose other people's money than one's own,
I hope?'

'Ah!' cried Isaac List rapturously, 'the pleasures of winning! The
delight of picking up the money--the bright, shining yellow-boys--and
sweeping 'em into one's pocket! The deliciousness of having a triumph
at last, and thinking that one didn't stop short and turn back, but
went half-way to meet it! The--but you're not going, old gentleman?'

'I'll do it,' said the old man, who had risen and taken two or three
hurried steps away, and now returned as hurriedly. 'I'll have it,
every penny.'

'Why, that's brave,' cried Isaac, jumping up and slapping him on the
shoulder; 'and I respect you for having so much young blood left. Ha,
ha, ha! Joe Jowl's half sorry he advised you now. We've got the laugh
against him. Ha, ha, ha!'

'He gives me my revenge, mind,' said the old man, pointing to him
eagerly with his shrivelled hand: 'mind--he stakes coin against coin,
down to the last one in the box, be there many or few. Remember that!'

'I'm witness,' returned Isaac. 'I'll see fair between you.'

'I have passed my word,' said Jowl with feigned reluctance, 'and I'll
keep it. When does this match come off? I wish it was over.--
To-night?'

'I must have the money first,' said the old man; 'and that I'll have
to-morrow--'

'Why not to-night?' urged Jowl.

'It's late now, and I should be flushed and flurried,' said the old
man. 'It must be softly done. No, to-morrow night.'

'Then to-morrow