" Mr Chase assented that it was a very
nice game certainly; and the French gentleman seeming by this
time to have had quite enough beer, insisted, before they went to
the docks--which was essential--that they should see just one
game played.
'As he insisted on paying Mr Chase for all the time consumed with
him, and as his servant, of course, could not object, the party
adjourned to the "Select Subscription Ground" at once. In the
ground there was a quiet, insignificant-looking little man,
smoking a cigar; and as they were so few, he was asked to assist,
which, after considerable hesitation and many apologies for his
bad play, he did. The end is of course guessed. The French
gentleman was a foolish victim, with more money than wits, who
backed himself to do almost impossible feats, when it was evident
he could not play at all, and laid sovereigns against the best
player, who was the little stranger, doing the easiest. What
with the excitement, and what with the beer, which was probably
spiced with some unknown relish a little stronger than nutmeg, Mr
Chase could not help joining in winning the foreign gentleman's
money; it seemed no harm, he had so much of it.
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