his appearance," said one of
the two companions, glancing at the clock.

"I would rather have anybody else, if it comes to that," said the other,
peevishly. "Moore spoils the game all to bits. You never know where to
have him--"

"Yes, that's just where he finds his salvation," continued he of the
toothpick. "Mind you, that wild play has its advantages. He gets caught
now and again, but he catches you at times. You make sure he is
bluffing, you raise him and raise him, then you call him--and find he
has three aces! And I will say this for Moore--he's a capital loser. He
doesn't seem to mind losing a bit, so long as you keep on. You would
think he was a millionaire; only a millionaire would have an eye on
every chip, I suppose. What salary do they give him at the New Theatre?"

[Illustration: "_He threw his arms on the table before him, and hid his
face_"]

"Fifty pounds a week, I've heard say; but people tell such lies. Even
fifty pounds a week won't hold out if he goes on like that. What I
maintain is that it isn't good poker. For one thing, I object to
'straddling' altogether; it's simply a stupid way of raising the stakes;
of course, the straddler has the advantage of coming in last, but then
look at the disadvantage of having to bet first. No, I don't object to
betting before the draw; that's sensible; there's some skill and
judgment in that; but straddling is simply stupid. You ought to make it
easy for every one to come in; that's the proper game; frighten them out
afterwards if you can." And then he added, gloomily, "That fellow Moore
is a regular bull in a china-shop."

"I suspect he has been raking over a few of your chips, Bertie," his
companion said, with a placid grin.

Just as he was speaking, Lionel entered the room, and, having ordered
some supper, took a seat at the table. One of those young gentlemen,
throwing away his toothpick, came and sat down opposite him.

"Big house to-night, as usual?" he asked.

"Full," was the answer. "I dare say when the archangel blows his trump,
"The Squire's Daughter" will still be advertised in the bills all over
the town. I don't see why it should stop before then."

"It would be a sudden change for the company, wouldn't it?" the young
man on the other side of the table said. "Fancy, now, a music-hall
singer--no disrespect to you, Moore--I mean a music-hall comic--fancy
his finding himself all at once in heaven; don't you think he'd feel
deuced awkward? H