"No. Let me alone!"

"Harry!"

"I say no!"

His mouth was drawn tight and his eyes glared sullenly as those
of a stubborn child. Clearly it was impossible to get him away
without making a scene, which was unthinkable. For a moment I was
at a complete loss; then the croupier's voice sounded suddenly in
my ear:

"You are interrupting us, sir."

I silenced him with a glance and turned to my brother, having
decided in an instant on the only possible course.

"Here, let me have your chair. I will get it back for you.
Come!"

He looked at me for a moment in hesitation, then rose without a
word and I took his place.

The thing was tiresome enough, but how could I have avoided it?
The blood that rushes to the head of the gambler is certainly not
food for the intellect; and, besides, I was forced by
circumstances into an heroic attitude--and nothing is more
distasteful to a man of sense. But I had a task before me; if a
man lays bricks he should lay them well; and I do not deny that