Now, I expect you'd like to see this young gent; so follow me, if you please." Through many passages, past many doors, he followed him, until they left the noise of the revelry behind, and at last, at the end of a long dark passage, the prizefighter suddenly threw open a door, and announced--"Major Buckley!" There were four men playing at cards, and the one opposite to him was George Hawker.

The Major saw at a glance, almost before anyone had time to speak, that George was losing money, and that the other three were confederates.
The prize-fighter went up to the table and seized the cards; then, after a momentary examination, threw both packs in the fire.
"When gents play cards in my house, I expect them to use the cards I provides at the bar, and not private packs, whether marked or not.

Mr.
Hawker, I warned you before about this; you'll lose every sixpence you're worth, and then you will say it was done at my house, quite forgetting to mention that I warned you of it repeatedly." But George took no notice of him.

"Really, Major Buckley," he began, "this is rather--" "Rather an intrusion, you would say--eh, Mr.Hawker ?" said the Major; "so it is, but the urgency of my business must be my apology.

Can you give me a few words alone ?" George rose and came out with them.