place further. We walked leisurely down the handsome staircase
into the grill and luncheon room downstairs.

"Well, have you found out anything?" asked a voice behind us.

We turned. It was Herman who had joined us. Without pausing for an
answer he added, "I suppose you are aware of the character of this
place? It looks fine, but the games are all crooked, and I guess
there are some pretty desperate characters here, from all
accounts. I shouldn't like to fall afoul of any of them, if I were
you."

"Oh, no," replied Garrick, "it wouldn't be pleasant. But we came
in well introduced, and I don't believe anyone suspects."

Several others, talking and laughing loudly to cover their chagrin
over losses, perhaps, entered the buffet.

With the gratuitous promise to stand by us in trouble of any kind,
Herman excused himself, and returned to watch the play about the
roulette table.

Garrick and I leisurely finished the little bite of salad we had
ordered, then strolled upstairs again.

The play was becoming more and more furious. Forbes was losing
again, but was sticking to it with a grim determination that was
worthy of a better cause. Warrington had already made one attempt
to get him away but had not succeeded.