The dinner was grand; the servants were grand; all was grand to Owen’s bewildered imagination.  Madame Duvet made such very decided attempts to talk to him, however, that he was obliged to cease wondering, and to bring his usually versatile genius into play, in the light of all the grandeur.  He got on so well with the lady, that Howel wondered in his turn, and after dinner told Owen that he verily believed if he played his cards well, he might make an impression on the pretty widow.

‘One can do that, I should say, without any cards at all,’ said Owen, showing his white teeth from amidst his big black beard.

When the ladies had left the dinner-table, Owen began to gain some insight into the characters and pursuits of Howel’s guests.  He had not spent thirteen or fourteen years amongst men of all ranks and all nations, without having acquired a shrewd judgment, and a tolerable knowledge of mankind.

The conversation turned at once upon hunting, racing, steeple-chasing, billiards, bets, and the like.  It was evident that Howel, too, was well initiated into such matters.  Mr Rice Rice asked him when the question of the hounds was to be decided, and Howel said that kennels were in preparation, and that he hoped to have a first-rate pack by the winter.  There arose a dispute about a celebrated racer that Howel appeared to possess in London, and that was expected daily at Abertewey.  Howel declared his intention of letting her run at the Carmarthen races.  Captain Dancy, having heavy stakes on the mare, vowed it might disable her for the Derby, and words ran high; but Mr Deep interposed, and changed the subject to that of rouge et noir.

They sat over the dinner-table till nearly eleven o’clock, by which time they were all more or less exhilarated.  Howel’s wines were good, his cellar was well stocked, and he was lavish of everything that might give him a reputation amongst the Welsh squires that surrounded him, many of whom still worshipped at the shrine of Bacchus.

When they joined the ladies, Owen thought the conversation was rather too loud and boisterous.  Captain Dancy alone was quite himself, and made Netta sing some little French songs to Owen’s great amusement.  After tea and coffee had been carried round, a card table appeared, and vingt-et-un was proposed.  The stakes were so high that Owen trembled for his small stock of wealth? but to his astonishment again, he found himself, at the end of the evening, a gainer of nearly five pounds, although he had been most moderate in his own stakes.  He was struck with the eagerness of Madame Duvet and Netta, who entered into the game with all the avidity of accomplished gamblers.

It was very late when they finished the game, and nominally retired for the night, but not late enough to prevent Howel, Captain Dancy, Mr Deep, and Sir Samuel Spendall from sitting down again to whist.  Owen left them at it, not altogether satisfied with himself or his companions.