Frank was a person who believed that knowledge of almost any sort was likely to prove of value to a man at some stage of his career, and he had made a practice of learning everything possible. He had studied up on the tricks of gamblers, so that he knew all about their methods of robbing their victims. Being a first-class amateur magician, his knowledge of card tricks had become of value to him in more than one instance. He felt that he would be able to hold his own against pretty clever card-sharps, but he did not care or propose to have any dealings with such men, unless forced to do so. The boys kept still for a while. Their light was extinguished, but, up near the ceiling, a shaft of light came through the partition from the other room. Diamond saw it. He jumped up and dragged a trunk into position by that partition. Mounted on the trunk, he applied his eye to the orifice and discovered that he could see into the Frenchman's room very nicely. "What can you see?" grunted Browning. "I can see everyone in there," answered Jack. "Name them." "The Frenchman, the Englishman, the superstitious man, and our fresh friend, Bloodgood." "Same old crowd," murmured Frank. "Yes, and a hot old game!" came from the youth on the trunk. "My! my! but they are whooping her up! They've got plenty to drink, and they are playing for big dust." "Tell them to saw up till to-morrow," mumbled Bruce. Jack did not do so, however. He remained on the trunk, watching the game, seeming greatly interested. A big game of poker interested him any time. It was through the influence of Frank that he had been led to renounce the game, but the thirst for its excitements and delights remained with him, for he had come from a family of card-players and sportsmen. "Come, come!" laughed Frank, after a while; "I can hear your teeth chattering, old man. Get off that trunk and turn in." "Wait!" fluttered Jack--"wait till I see this hand played out." In less than half a minute he cried: "It's a skin game! I knew it was!" "What's the lay?" asked Merry. "That infernal Frenchman is a card-sharp!" "I suspected as much." "His pal is the Englishman. They are standing in together." "Yes?" "Sure thing. They are bleeding Bloodgood and Slush. Bloodgood thinks he's pretty sharp, and I have not much sympathy for him; but I am sorry for poor little Slush. He should have paid attention to some of his signs and omens. He knew something disastrous would happen during this voyage, and I rather think it will happen to him." Then Diamond thumped the wall again, crying: "Stop that business in there! Mr. Slush, you are playing cards with crooks--you are being robbed! Get out of that game as soon as you can!" There was a sudden silence in the adjoining room, and then M. Rouen Montfort was heard to utter an exclamation in French, following which he cried: "I see you to-morrow, saire! I make you swallow ze lie!" "You may see me any time you like!" Diamond flung back. CHAPTER XI.