e to you. I--I thought it might be you
could give me--some information--about Mr. Bloodgood."

"You've come to the wrong place."

"Really? Don't you know--anything about him? You are--er--well
acquainted with him?"

"On the contrary, to-day is the first time we have ever spoken to him."

"Is that so?" said Mr. Slush, in evident disappointment. "You
are--er--young men about--about his age, and--and--"

"Not in his class," put in Diamond.

"No?" said Mr. Slush, looking at Jack queerly. "I didn't know--I
thought--"

There the queer little man stopped, seeming quite unable to proceed.
Then, in his hesitating, uncertain way, he tried to make it clear that
he did not care to play cards for money with anybody about whom he knew
nothing. He was not very effective in his explanation, and seemed
himself rather uncertain concerning his real reason for wishing to make
inquiries concerning Bloodgood.

Frank studied Mr. Slush closely, but could not take the measure of the
man. Somehow, Merry seemed to feel that there was more to the queer
little fellow than appeared on the surface.

"Well, you have come to the wrong parties to get information about Mr.
Bloodgood," said Frank. "But, if you are so particular about your
company, it might be well to learn something concerning the other
members of your party."

"Oh--er--I know all about them," asserted Mr. Slush.

"Indeed?"

"Yes. Hugh Hazleton is the younger son of an English nobleman, and he
is--is all--right."

"Who told you this?"

"He did."

"Then it must be true," grunted Browning, with a grin on his broad face.

"Yes," nodded the little man, innocently, "that is--ah--settled. M.
Rouen Montfort is a--a great French journalist and--er--writer of
books."

"Is that so?" smiled Merry. "Queer, I never heard of him. I suppose he
told you this?"

"Oh, yes. He is a very fine--gentleman. Ah--did Mr. Bloodgood
invite--er--any of you to come into the--ah--game?"

Frank fancied he saw a sudden light. Was it possible Mr. Slush was
looking for "suckers?"

Was it possible he had been sent there to inveigle them into the party,
so that some sharp might "skin" them? It did not seem improbable.

Harry seemed to catch onto the same idea, for he popped up in his bunk
suddenly, but a sudden roll of the steamer caused him to sink down again
with a groan.

Diamond's eyes began to glitter. He, too, fancied he saw the little
game.

"No," said Merry, slowly, "he did not invit