"There's nothing like constancy," cried Mr. Pelham. Sydney, with a steady hand, wrote out an I O U for seven thousand pounds, and threw it over to Mr. Pelham. Once more the same numbers were backed, and the devil sent the marble rolling back for the second time into number 24. "Always back the last number and the last colour," cried Mr. Pelham. "For a novice, Pelham," remarked one of our party, "you play exceedingly well." The slight sneer which accompanied the remark was not lost upon us, but Mr. Pelham did not appear to notice it. I believe at that moment there was not a man in the room who would not have been made happy by the opportunity of picking a quarrel with him. "There is nothing difficult to learn in it," said Mr. Pelham; "even such a poor player as myself may happen to be favoured by fortune." Sydney, meanwhile, had written another I O U for seven thousand pounds; he handed it to Mr. Pelham, saying, "You will give me my revenge?" "Most certainly," replied Mr. Pelham. "Now?" "No," said Sydney, "to-morrow night. You hold a great deal of my paper?" Mr. Pelham produced his pocket-book, and added up some figures. "Something under twenty thousand," said Mr. Pelham. Sydney nodded gravely, and not rising from his seat, twirled the wheel carelessly, and apparently in deep thought. Roulette, however, was over for the night, and the men broke up into small parties, some playing hazard, some unlimited loo. I alone remained with Sydney by the wheel. As carelessly as himself, I threw the marble in as he turned the wheel. He gave me an intelligent glance, and we continued our idle game for a couple of dozen turns of the wheel. Numbers 5 or 24 came up on average about once in every six turns. Sydney rose from the table, and in such a manner as not to attract attention I examined the wheel. It did not occupy me long to discover that it had been tampered with. The spaces between the two numbers Mr. Pelham had backed were wider than those which divided the other numbers, and the circumstance of numbers 5 and 24 being opposite Zero gave the backer an immense advantage. The chances in his favour were increased by another discovery I made. Where these two lucky numbers were situated there was a deeper bevel than in any other part of the circle. I ascertained this both by sight and touch. There was no further doubt in my mind as to the character of Mr. Pelham, nor, indeed, as to the character of Grace. The wheel could not have been tampered with had they not been in collusion. Before we broke up, a little private conversation took place between the two men. Mr. Pelham put a question to Sydney, and Sydney replied, "Certainly. Give yourself no anxiety." Then he drew me aside, and asked me if I could let him have a hundred pounds. "It is for Grace," he said, "she is short of money; and so am I," he added with a laugh. I gave him the money, and we broke up for the night.