"Exactly. And you did not win it because you weren't game, and because you allowed yourself to be led away. What is the good of a man unless he has the courage of his opinions? Before midnight I'm going to try you; I'm going to see whether you're worth trying to save (because you are in a frightful hole, you know, and there's no telling what will happen to you if you continue to show the white feather), or whether I shall let you go to the dogs. It depends upon me, old chap. Oppose me, show ingratitude, try to prove that you're cleverer than I am, and the odds are that you will have seven years--not less--perhaps fourteen. Oh, you are clever, you are! Make no mistake, you _are_ clever; but you want nerve! Why, if you had been open with me--if you had told me honestly what your system was--we might both have made fortunes. But that's neither here nor there. Things are as they are, aren't they?" "Yes, they are," sighed Jeremiah. "Shall I go on?" "Yes." "Well, then. You brought down two thousand pounds with you, and you blued it. Eh?" "Yes." "I don't ask you where you got the money from. It is no business of mine, and I will have nothing to do with it. I have my ideas, but I'll keep them to myself. Having lost your two thousand pounds, you get me to introduce you to a book-maker, who took your bets in the expectation of paying you if you won, and receiving from you if you lost. And you did business with him in a false name." "I didn't get you," protested Jeremiah; "you offered to introduce me; and it was at _your_ suggestion I used the name of Farebrother." Captain Ablewhite rose and said, "Good-morning." "No, no," cried Jeremiah, piteously; "don't desert me!" "Did I introduce you, or did you ask me to introduce you?" demanded Captain Ablewhite. "I asked you--I asked you!" whined Jeremiah. "And did you use Farebrother's name upon my suggestion? Be careful, old chap." "At my own suggestion," faltered Jeremiah. "Good," said Captain Ablewhite, resuming his seat. "You made bets with him, and you are in his books over three thousand pounds. Is that correct?" "Yes." "I have I O U's for another two thousand pounds. Is that correct?" "Yes." "It is a satisfaction. You hold acceptances of mine for close on that amount, and the entire amount of cash I have received from you is about one-fourth of that amount." "Business is business," groaned Jeremiah. "All right. I didn't complain, and I don't. You and I are pretty well squared on that account. Taking it altogether, you have lost this week some seven thousand pounds, when you might have won as much." "Oh, Lord!" gasped Jeremiah. "You may clasp your head till you're blue in the face, and _that_ won't get you out of the hole. Do you want to get out of it?" "Yes; of course I do."