370 



" Oil — w-h-o-y — 'spose we say ecarte ? " replied Facey, in an off- 

 hand sort of way. 



" Well," drawled Sponge, pocketing his " Mogg," preparatory to 

 action. 



" You haven't a clean pack, have you? " asked Sponge, as Facey, 

 diving into a drawer, produced a very dirty, thumb-marked set. 



" W-h-o-y, no, I haven't," replied Facey. " W-h-o-y, no, I 

 haven't : but, honour bright, these are all right and fair. Wouldn't 

 cheat a man, if it was ever so." 



" Sure you wouldn't," replied Sponge, nothing comforted by the 

 assertion. 



They then resumed their seats opposite each other at the little 

 table, with the hot water and sugar, and " Fine London Spirit " 

 bottle, equitably placed between them. 



At first Mr. Sponge was the victor, and by nine o'clock had 

 scored eight-and-twenty shillings against his host, when he was in- 

 clined to leave off, alleging that he was an early man, and would go 

 to bed — an arrangement that Facey seemed to come into, only press- 

 ing Sponge to accompany the gin he was now helping himself to with 

 another cigar. This seemed all fair and reasonable ; and as Sponge 

 conned matters over, through the benign influence of the " baccy," 

 he really thought Facey mightn't be such a bad beggar after all. 



" Well, then," said he, as he finished cigar and glass together, 

 "if you'll give me eight-and-twenty-bob, I'll be off to bedfordshire." 



" You'll give me my revenge surely ! " exclaimed Facey, in pre- 

 tended astonishment. 



" To-morrow night," replied Sponge firmly, thinking it would 

 have to go hard with him if he remained there to give it. 



" Nay, now ! " rejoined Facey, adding, " it's quite early. Me 

 Oncle G-ilroy and I always play much later at Queercove Hill." 



Sponge hesitated. If he had got the money, he would have re- 

 fused point-blank ; as it was, he thought, perhaps the only chance of 

 getting it was to go on. With no small reluctance and misgivings he 

 mixed himself another tumbler of gin and water, and, changing seats, 

 resumed the game. Nor was our discreet friend far wrong in his 

 calculations, for luck now changed, and Facey seemed to have the 

 king quite at command. In less than an hour, he had not only 

 wiped off the eight-and-twenty shillings, but had scored three pound 

 fifteen against his guest. Facey would now leave off. Sponge, on 

 the other hand, wanted to go on. Facey, however, was firm. " I'll 

 cut you double or quits, then," cried Sponge, in rash despair. Facey 

 accommodated him and doubled the debt. 



" Again! " exclaimed Sponge, with desperate energy. 



" No ! no more, thank ye," replied Facey, coolly. " Fair play's 

 a jewel." 



" So it is," assented Mr. Sponge, thinking he hadn't had it. 



