"He is gambling," he said, "and losing the money, and you come to me
to advise him what to play. I understand. Well, tell him he will lose
what little he has left; tell him I advise him to go home; tell him--"
"No, no!" the girl said excitedly; "you do not understand; he has not
lost, he has won. He has won, oh, so many rolls of money, but he will
not stop. Do you not see? He has won as much as we could earn in many
months--in many years, sir, by saving and working, oh, so very hard!
And now he risks it again, and I cannot force him away. But if you,
sir, if you would tell him how great the chances are against him, if
you who know would tell him how foolish he is not to be content with
what he has, he would listen. He says to me, 'Bah! you are a woman';
and he is so red and fierce; he is imbecile with the sight of the
money, but he will listen to a grand gentleman like you. He thinks to
win more and more, and he thinks to buy another third from old Carbut.
Is it not foolish? It is so wicked of him."
"Oh, yes," said the Goodwood Plunger, nodding, "I see now. You want me
to take him away so that he can keep what he has. I see; but I don't
know him. He will not listen to me, you know; I have no right to
interfere.
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