e, I reckon. I don't know much about such fixins
meself, but it's full valley for that ar watch an' chain, I shed say."

"Nonsense!" cried several: "two hundred dollars--it's worth it all. See
the jewels!"

Chorley cut short the discussion.

"Well," said he, "I don't think it worth more than what I've bid, sir.
But since you wish to get back what you've already lost, I don't mind
staking two hundred against watch and chain together. Does that satisfy
you?"

"Play on!" was the only answer made by the impatient Creole, as he took
back his watch, and laid it down upon one of the cards.

It was a cheap watch to Chorley. It cost him but the drawing out of
half-a-dozen cards, and it became his!

"How much against this?"

D'Hauteville drew off his ring, and held it before the dazzled eyes of
the dealer.

At this crisis I once more interfered, but my remonstrance was unheeded.
It was of no use trying to stay the fiery spirit of the Creole.

The ring was a diamond, or rather a collection of diamonds in a gold
setting. It, like the watch, was also of the fashion worn by ladies;
and I could hear some characteristic remarks muttered around the table,
such as, "That young blood's got a rich girl somewhere", "There's more
where they come from," and the like!

The ring was evidently one of much value, as Chorley, after an
examination of it, proposed to stake four hundred dollars. The tall man
in dark whiskers again interfered, and put it at five hundred. The
circle backed him, and the dealer at length agreed to give that sum.

"Will you take cheques, sir?" he inquired, addressing D'Hauteville, "or
do you mean to stake it at one bet?"

"At one bet," was the answer.

"No, no!" cried several voices, inclined to favour D'Hauteville.

"At one bet," repeated he, in a determined tone. "Place it upon the
ace!"

"As you wish, sir," responded Chorley, with perfect _sang-froid_, at the
same time handing back the ring to its owner.

D'Hauteville took the jewel in his slender white fingers, and laid it on
the centre of the card. It was the only bet made. The other players
had become so interested in the result, that they withheld their stakes
in order to watch it.

Chorley commenced drawing the cards. Each one as it came forth caused a
momentary thrill of expectancy; and when aces, deuces, or tres with
their broad white margins appeared outside the edge of that mysterious
box, the excitement became intense.

It w