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Chapter 9

           Itwillbe,tillIdie.’

           ‘ThatIshouldhavebeenblinded,’saidQuilplookingcontemptuouslyathim,‘byamereshallowgambler!’

           ‘Iamnogambler,’criedtheoldmanfiercely.‘IcallHeaventowitnessthatIneverplayedforgainofmine,orloveofplay;thatateverypieceIstaked,Iwhisperedtomyselfthatorphan’snameandcalledonHeaventoblesstheventure;whichitneverdid.Whomdiditprosper?WhowerethosewithwhomIplayed?Menwholivedbyplunder,profligacy,andriot;squanderingtheirgoldindoingill,andpropagatingviceandevil.Mywinningswouldhavebeenfromthem,mywinningswouldhavebeenbestowedtothelastfarthingonayoungsinlesschildwhoselifetheywouldhavesweetenedandmadehappy.Whatwouldtheyhavecontracted?Themeansofcorruption,wretchedness,andmisery.Whowouldnothavehopedinsuchacause?Tellmethat!WhowouldnothavehopedasIdid?’

           ‘Whendidyoufirstbeginthismadcareer?’askedQuilp,histauntinginclinationsubdued,foramoment,bytheoldman’sgriefandwildness.

           ‘WhendidIfirstbegin?’herejoined,passinghishandacrosshisbrow.‘Whenwasit,thatIfirstbegan?Whenshoulditbe,butwhenIbegantothinkhowlittleIhadsaved,howlongatimeittooktosaveatall,howshortatimeImighthaveatmyagetolive,andhowshewouldbelefttotheroughmerciesoftheworld,withbarelyenoughtokeepherfromthesorrowsthatwaitonpoverty;thenitwasthatIbegantothinkaboutit.’

           ‘Afteryoufirstcametometogetyourpreciousgrandsonpackedofftosea?’saidQuilp.

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