He
would have sat down at the table and gone on indefinitely with this
frantic plunging, but that his companions declared they must go
directly; at last three of them solemnly swore they would have only one
round more. There were then left in only Lionel and the young fellow who
had won his L28 early in the evening.
"Johnny, I'll go you once for twenty pounds," Lionel said.
"Done with you."
"I say, you fellows," protested one of the bystanders, "you'll smash up
this club--you'll have the police shutting it up as a gambling-hell.
Besides, you're breaking the rules; you'll have the committee expelling
you."
"What rules?" Lionel's opponent asked, wheeling round.
"The amount of the stakes, for one thing; and playing after three
o'clock, for another," was the answer.
"I'll bet you ten pounds there's no limit as to time in the rules of
this club--I mean as regards card-playing," the young man said, boldly.
"I take you."
The bell was rung; a waiter was sent to fetch a List of Members; and
then he who had accepted the bet read out these solemn words:
"Rule XIX. No higher stakes than guinea points shall ever be played for,
nor shall any card or billiard playing be permitted in the club after 3
A.
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