VIII. A New Force Disturbs the Current

           Wildevestared.VennlookedcoollytowardsWildeve,and,withoutawordbeingspoken,hedeliberatelysathimselfdownwhereChristianhadbeenseated,thrusthishandintohispocket,drewoutasovereign,andlaiditonthestone.

           “Youhavebeenwatchingusfrombehindthatbush?”saidWildeve.

           Thereddlemannodded.“Downwithyourstake,”hesaid.“Orhaven’tyoupluckenoughtogoon?”

           Now,gamblingisaspeciesofamusementwhichismuchmoreeasilybegunwithfullpocketsthanleftoffwiththesame;andthoughWildeveinacoolertempermighthaveprudentlydeclinedthisinvitation,theexcitementofhisrecentsuccesscarriedhimcompletelyaway.Heplacedoneoftheguineasonaslabbesidethereddleman’ssovereign.“Mineisaguinea,”hesaid.

           “Aguineathat’snotyourown,”saidVennsarcastically.

           “Itismyown,”answeredWildevehaughtily.“Itismywife’s,andwhatishersismine.”

           “Verywell;let’smakeabeginning.”Heshookthebox,andthreweight,ten,andnine;thethreecastsamountedtotwenty-seven.

           ThisencouragedWildeve.Hetookthebox;andhisthreecastsamountedtoforty-five.

           Downwentanotherofthereddleman’ssovereignsagainsthisfirstonewhichWildevelaid.ThistimeWildevethrewfifty-onepoints,butnopair.Thereddlemanlookedgrim,threwaraffleofaces,andpocketedthestakes.

           “Hereyouareagain,”saidWildevecontemptuously.“Doublethestakes.”HelaidtwoofThomasin’sguineas,andthereddlemanhistwopounds.Vennwonagain.Newstakeswerelaidonthestone,andthegamblersproceededasbefore.