"
"I wouldn't trouble you--thanks!" said Lionel, rather coldly; and then,
having eaten a biscuit and drank a glass of claret and water, he went
up-stairs to the card-room.
There were two tables occupied--one party playing whist, the other
poker; to the latter Lionel idly made his way.
"Coming in, Moore?"
"Oh, yes, I'll come in. What are you playing?"
"Usual thing: sixpenny ante and five-shilling limit."
"Let's have it a shilling ante and a sovereign limit," he proposed, as
they made room for him at the table, and to this they agreed, and the
game began.
At first Lionel could get no hands at all, but he never went out;
sometimes he drew four cards to an ace or a queen, sometimes he took the
whole five; while his losses, if steady, were not material. Occasionally
he bluffed, and got a small pot; but it was risky, as he was distinctly
in a run of bad luck. At last he was dealt nine, ten, knave, queen, ace,
in different suite. This looked better.
"How many?" asked the dealer.
"I will take one card, if you please," he said, throwing away the ace.
He glanced at the card, as he put it into his hand: it was a king; he
had a straight.
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