He had no opinion of any man who would fleece another, and he
saw that Howel and Mr Deep were preying upon the simple, conceited Mr
Simpson, and the careless, lavish Sir Samuel Spendall. As to Mr Deep, he
watched his opportunity of outwitting either of the four as it offered.
Saturday came and passed, as usual, in visiting and gambling. A good
many of the sporting men of the country called to see Howel's famous
race-horse, Campaigner, in training for the St Leger, and to indulge in
a little of the sporting gossip of the day, whilst their womankind
indulged in more general, and equally intellectual, country gossip. Some
of the young men stayed to dinner, and when Miss Simpson had duly played
her waltzes, and Netta had gone through her French songs, _vingt-et-un_
was proposed.
Owen took his customary place by Madame Duvet, and played his usual
game. But he had not the luck of the previous evening, and soon lost the
five pounds he then won, and very nearly the little he possessed
besides. When he knew that he was within a few shillings of bankruptcy
he said,--
'I am very sorry to leave such agreeable society, but if I play any more
I shall never get to sea. Look at my purse!' holding it up and shaking
it, 'it is very nearly empty.
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