It must, however, be understood that “rouge et noir,” and other games were played at the club-house into which Peace now found himself for the first time introduced. Kempshead endeavoured to explain to him the manner in which the game was played. A short bald-headed gentleman, who wore a military coat, and had a remarkably thick and dark moustache, and who had been introduced to Peace as Captain Draper, now sidled up to Kempshead and said, nodding at Peace―― “Does your friend play?” “Well, no, I can’t say he does――he’s a novice. Ahem, a young man from the country.” “Ah, ah! capital――I see,” returned the captain, with a loud military laugh. Everything he did or said impressed you with being “loud.” Doubtless the reader has met with a man of this description. It is marvellous what a number of captains are to be found in gambling houses, billiard saloons, and other places of public resort. If you are in doubt about a man it is quite safe to put him down as a captain or a stockbroker. But the captains are by far the most numerous, and in many instances the most doubtful. Captain Draper had, of course, a stentorian voice, which doubtless had been acquired by his constantly giving the word of command to the gallant troop of which he was the head. “Your friend will not refuse to take a glass of wine with me?” said Draper to Kempshead, in an easy off-hand manner. “He will be most delighted to do so, I’ve no doubt.” The three gentlemen moved towards the sideboard. This was an important feature in the appointments of the room. Upon it rested a goodly array of bottles――and such bottles no one out of the gambling world ever saw in their life. They were redolent not only of wines and spirits but of wickedness. No other bottle had so insinuating a shape, so graceful a neck, so smiling a mouth, and such an irresistible-looking cork. As far as their external appearance was concerned they were faultless, so also was the brilliant and seductive-looking sideboard. The thought arose in Peace’s mind, “Where do these dangerous bottles come from. Are they manufactured for the exclusive use of the members of this highly respectable and aristocratic club, or does some wealthy member make them a present to the establishment for the use of the delectable members thereof?” This last hypothesis does not seem to be the correct one. The brands on them are unknown to fame. None but a sporting man could recognise the name of the maker. Are they supplied by an adventurous gentleman of the Hebrew persuasion, who finds enough supporters in the villainous world to employ spirit importers, manufacturers, bottle makers, and label printers? The aforesaid gentleman of the Hebrew persuasion is, of course, constrained in his multifarious business transactions to lend money at sixty per cent. occasionally――only occasionally――and then it must be to good men and true. “What will you take?” said the captain. “Shall we have a bottle of sparkling?”