SOME REMARKS ON FOREGOING CHAPTERS 265 



for these reasons it would be to our mutual advantage if you 

 could each let me have fifty pounds on account, which would 

 save me any anxiety as to matters financial, for I could not do 

 all I wish for next season's sport without being a considerable 

 sum of money out of pocket." 



As this seemed but reasonable, we one and all agreed to 

 the proposition, and the next day Mr. Bagge received five 

 cheques of fifty pounds each, so while his "guns" were busy 

 writing out the documents, he promised them an extra day's 

 sport on a hitherto untouched beat, and faithfully he kept his 

 word, for the bag was heavy while delightfully "mixed." To 

 celebrate the occasion properly the champagne flowed freely, 

 and, sad to tell, the billiard players did not walk round the table 

 with quite their usual steadiness. After being beaten three 

 games in succession, Bagge lost his temper, and with a bang of 

 the butt-end of his cue on the floor he angrily exclaimed — 



"It's all this confounded table ; it's neither true nor fast, for 

 I could beat either of you fellows on a real good one. I'll tell 

 you what I vote we do to-morrow : let us steam into Greenock, 

 take train to Glasgow, and there I will play you each a game 

 of three hundred up for anything you like ; so come now, just 

 say if you two have the pluck to say yes to that ! " 



To this his opponent, on whom the wine had had a greater 

 effect than on any of the others, retorted, " All right, done with 

 you, and you can have a ' monkey ' on it if you like ! " while 

 before the host could reply, the other player joined in to say — 

 " Very well, Bagge, you can have a match on the same terms 

 with me too, but I vote we all go to bed now and think it over 

 in the morning, for really your champagne was so good that we 

 are just a little excited, for as neither of us wish to get the best 

 of the match, some points must be given you to make it a 

 fair one." 



This only increased Bagge 's ire. Strong language passed on 

 both sides, and all three waxed so hot that ultimately paper was 

 procured, and a play or pay match was then and there made. 



2 M 



