e wouldn't be quite at home, would he?--want to get
back to Mr. Chairman and the chorus in the gallery, eh, what?--'pon my
soul, it would make a capital picture if you could get a fellow with
plenty of imagination to do it--quite tragic, don't you know--you'd have
the poor devil's face just full of misery--not knowing where to go or
what to do--"

"The British public would be inclined to rise and rend that painter,"
said Lionel, carelessly; this young man was useful as a poker-player,
but otherwise not interesting.

Two or three members now came in; and by the time Lionel had finished
his frugal supper there was a chosen band of five ready to go up-stairs
and set to work with the cards. There was some ordering of
lemon-squashes and further cigarettes; new packs were brought by the
waiter; the players took their places; and the game was opened. With a
sixpenny "ante" and a ten-shilling "limit," the amusement could have
been kept mild enough by any one who preferred it should remain so.

But the usual thing happened. Now and again a fierce fight would ensue
between two good hands, and that seemed to arouse a spirit of general
emulation and eagerness; the play grew more bold; bets apart from the
game were laid by individual players between themselves. The putting up
of the "ante" became a mere farce, for every one came in as a matter of
course, even if he had to draw five cards; and already the piles of
chips on the table had undergone serious diminution or augmentation--in
the latter case there was a glimmer of gold among the bits of ivory.
There was no visible excitement, however; perhaps a player caught
bluffing might smile a little--that was all.

Lionel had been pretty fortunate, considering his wild style of play;
but then his very recklessness stood him in good stead when he chanced
to have a fair hand--his reputation for bluffing leading on his
opponents. And then an extraordinary bit of luck had befallen him. On
this occasion the first hand dealt him contained three queens, a seven,
and a five. To make the other players imagine he had either two pairs or
was drawing to a flush, he threw away only one of the two useless
cards--the five, as it chanced; but his satisfaction (which he bravely
endeavored to conceal) may be imagined when he found that the single
card dealt him in its place was a seven--he therefore had a full hand!
When it came to his turn, instead of beginning cautiously, as an
ordinary player woul