Mr. Chauncy, being now tired of walking, went to sit down upon one of the settees next to where Hilbert and Rollo had just gone to take a seat. Mr. Chauncy was next to Hilbert. He immediately began to talk with Hilbert about the lottery. "Have you got a ticket in this lottery?" he asked. "Yes," said Hilbert; "mine is 267. What is yours?" "I don't know," said Mr. Chauncy; "I did not observe." As he said this, however, he took his ticket out of his pocket, and said, reading it, "Ninety-nine." He was holding it wrong side upward, and so it read 99. "Ho!" said Hilbert, "that will not get the prize. We shall not go 299 miles. I would not exchange mine for yours on any account." "No," said Mr. Chauncy, "nor would I exchange mine for yours." "Why?" said Hilbert. "Do you think there is any chance of the ship's making 299?" "No," replied Mr. Chauncy; "and that is the very reason I like my ticket. If I had yours, I should be afraid I might get the prize." "Afraid?" repeated Hilbert. "Yes," said Mr. Chauncy. "Why should you be afraid?" asked Hilbert, much surprised. "Because," said Mr. Chauncy, "I should not know what to do with the money. I would not put it in my purse; for I don't let any thing go in there but honest money. I don't know who I could give it to. Besides, I should not like to ask any body to take what I should be ashamed to keep myself. I should really be in a very awkward situation." As he said this, Mr. Chauncy held his ticket between his thumb and finger, and looked at the number. Neither he nor Hilbert suspected for a moment that there was any mistake in reading it; for, not having paid any attention to the _scheme_, as it is called, of the lottery, they did not know how high the numbers went. "There is a possibility that I may get it, after all," said Mr. Chauncy at length, musing. "We have had fine weather, and have been coming on fast. The best thing for me to do is to get rid of the ticket. Have _you_ got a ticket, Rollo?" said he, turning to Rollo. "No, sir," said Rollo. "I have a great mind to give it to you, then." "No, sir," said Rollo; "I would rather not have it." "That is right," said Mr. Chauncy. "I like you the better for that. I know what I will do with it. Do you remember an Irishwoman that you see sitting on the forward deck sometimes with her two children?" "Yes," said Rollo; "she is there now." "Very well," said Mr. Chauncy; "carry this to her, and tell her it is a ticket in a lottery, and it may possibly draw a prize. Have you any conscientious scruples about doing that?" "No, sir," said Rollo. "Then take the ticket and go," added Mr. Chauncy. "Tell her she had better sell the ticket for two shillings, if she gets a chance. There may be somebody among the gamblers that will buy it."