“It is my luck.”

“Luck!  There is no such thing as luck.  Toss up, right hand against left for an hour together, and the result will be the same.  If not for an hour, then do it for six hours.  Take the average, and your cards will be the same as another man’s.”

“Another man has his skill,” said Mountjoy.

“And uses it against the unskillful to earn his daily bread.  That is the same as cheating.  But what is the use of all this?  You must have thought of it all before.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“And thinking of it, you are determined to persevere.  You are impetuous, not thoughtless, with your brain clouded with drink, and for the mere excitement of the thing, you are determined to risk all in a contest for which there is no chance for you,—­and by which you acknowledge you will be driven to self-destruction, as the only natural end.”

“I fear it is so,” said the captain.

“How much shall I draw it for?” said the attorney, taking out his check-book,—­“and to whom shall I make it payable?  I suppose I may date it to-day, so that the swindler who gets it may think that there is plenty more behind for him to get.”

“Do you mean that you are going to lend it me?”

“Oh, yes.”

“And how do you mean to get it again?”

“I must wait, I suppose, till you have won it back among your friends.  If you will tell me that you do not intend to look for it in that fashion, then I shall have no doubt as to your making me a legitimate payment in a very short time.  Two hundred and twenty pounds won’t ruin you, unless you are determined to ruin yourself.”  Mr. Grey the meanwhile went on writing the check.  “Here is provided for you a large sum of money,” and he laid his hand upon the will, “out of which you will be able to pay me without the slightest difficulty.  It is for you to say whether you will or not.”

“I will.”

“You need not say it in that fashion;—­that’s easy.  You must say it at some moment when the itch of play is on you; when there shall be no one by to hear:  when the resolution if held, shall have some meaning in it.  Then say, ’there’s that money which I had from old Grey.  I am bound to pay it.  But if I go in there I know what will be the result.  The very coin that should go into his coffers will become a part of the prey on which those harpies will feed.’  There’s the check for the two hundred and twenty-seven pounds.  I have drawn it exact, so that you may send the identical bit of paper to your friend.  He will suppose that I am some money-lender who has engaged to supply your needs while your recovered fortune lasts.  Tell your father he shall have the will to-morrow.  I don’t suppose I can send Smith with it to-day.”

Then it became necessary that Scarborough should go; but it would be becoming that he should first utter some words of thanks.  “I think you will get it back, Mr. Grey.”