“That,” said Dr. O’Grady, “is a paltry excuse, which you ought to be ashamed to make. No man could be brought up to think it wrong to flip pennies. Besides, what is it that’s wrong about gambling? It’s the excitement created by the element of risk associated with all gambling. Now, in this case, as you know perfectly well, there would have been no excitement, because there was no element of risk. The thing was a dead certainty. Patsy would have given you ten points in every game and beaten the head off you. If you had to make an excuse, why didn’t you trot out your weak heart again? That would have been more reasonable. When you wouldn’t play that, I proposed another game, called Moggy, at which you wouldn’t have had a chance of winning either. You refused it too. Then I said that if you liked we’d have a debate on Home Rule or Tariff Reform. I said that you two could choose your own side and that Patsy and I would take the other, whatever it was. I thought that would interest you. It would have bored both Patsy and me frightfully; but we were prepared to put up with that for your sakes.” “How could you expect us to take an interest in Tariff Reform,” said Mr. Dick, “when our minds were full of----” “Patsy,” said Dr. O’Grady, “if that man mentions his wife again, hit him with the flat of your hand on the side of the head. Now go on, Mr. Dick.” “When--when we were imprisoned,” said Mr. Dick. “That ought not to have stopped you,” said Dr. O’Grady. “The great problems of your country’s welfare ought to come before considerations of your personal convenience. Think of the ancient Romans. Remember Horatius, and Coriolanus, and the fellow that jumped into the hole in the Forum. That’s the way you ought to be behaving instead of grumbling and growling. Now I’m going to give you another chance. If you choose to behave like reasonable human beings, well and good. Patsy and I will do everything in our power to make your stay here pleasant for you. If you won’t, you shan’t have a bite or sup until you do. I’ll give you three minutes by my watch to make up your minds. Will you or will you not be sociable and pleasant? Will you join us in a game of Hunt the Slipper? Come over to the window, Patsy, and leave them to make up their minds together.” Patsy and Dr. O’Grady stood looking out at the yard; the doctor held his watch in his hand; there was dead silence in the room. “One minute gone,” said Dr. O’Grady. There was a sound of whispering which ceased abruptly. “Two minutes gone.” There was more whispering. Then Mr. Sanders spoke. “Don’t choose such a silly game,” he said. “We can’t play Hunt the Slipper. We really can’t. Dick says he’d rather starve.” “I’m not particular about what game you choose,” said Dr. O’Grady, “so long as it’s a possible game. There’s no use your saying golf or cricket or lawn tennis, because we’ve no way of playing them here. You can have Drop the Handkerchief, if you like, or Oranges and Lemons.”