He was no gambler, but he loved play to beguile the tedium of what would be otherwise his lonely hours. He loved society, and was glad to see so many faces around him with which he had been familiar for years. He certainly did talk like a father――not to say like a saint――to the members of the club. The hot feverish players smiled grimly at his eloquence. He was the only talkative man in the room. There were many there who were not quite so cheery. They were evidently bent on business, not gossip or badinage, and to judge from their apparel their business did not please them much. “Only for amusement,” pleaded the little sallow-faced man, “that’s all――only amusement. No stake larger than half-a-crown. We none of us want to be ruined. We play only for amusement. This is a social club. We are all brothers here. We all know that. Only for amusement, gentlemen.” He kept repeating this sentence, even as the raven in “Barnaby Rudge” was wont to repeat “Never say die.” Indeed, to say the truth, the little croupier reminded one very much of a raven. “Would you like to have one turn, and try your luck?” inquired Kempshead of Peace. “I don’t know anything of the game; but, being here, I must do as others do, I suppose,” answered our hero. “As I said before, gentlemen, we play only for amusement,” again remarked the croupier. “It’s all fair and aboveboard at this establishment.” Mr. Kempshead drew to the table, and purchased eight round pieces of ivory, each about the size of a shilling, for which he paid the bland and smiling croupier one sovereign. Peace handed his friend a sovereign, and requested him to purchase eight pieces for him. Opposite to the two friends was a bald-headed florid-complexioned man, who, Kempshead informed our hero, was a large merchant in the City. He was supposed to be very wealthy, but was a frequent visitor to the club. As a rule, he preferred _rouge et noir_ to roulette. Near to the florid-faced man were two young fellows of gentlemanly appearance, speech, and demeanour; but the gambling contagion had seized hold of them, and their whole souls seemed intent upon the whirling of the roulette. Peace placed a counter upon the red patch of cloth. His companion had already put one on the black patch, which he had forfeited. The general banker now gave the roulette a twist with the handle, and at the same time a marble shot round the circling edge. The little ball flew round and round in one direction, and the roulette spun in the opposite, until at length the impetus of the marble was insufficient to keep it upon the slanting surface of the frame, and it sank upon the still twisting roulette and settled into a pocket opposite one of the squares. The square in question was a red one, and the banker handed Peace another counter, value two shillings and sixpence.