He would see that he could be robbed in fifty different ways, and would be at the absolute mercy of any sharper.

I never had any inclination for gambling, but if I had been inclined that way you would have cured me of the passion for life." The week's instruction was lengthened to a fortnight, and at the end of that time Mark went to Dick Chetwynd.
"Do you know, Dick," he said, "a gambling place in Buckingham Street ?" "I know that there is a hell there, Mark, but I have never been in it.
Why do you ask ?" "I have rather a fancy to go there," he replied.

"I hear that, although a good many men of fashion haunt the place, the crowd is rather a mixed one." "It has a bad name, Mark; I have heard some queer reports about it." "Yes, so have I.I should think that it is a very likely place for a man like Bastow to go to if he has any liking for play.

Of course he would get up as a gentleman.

At any rate, I have been making what inquiries I can in some of the thieves' quarters, and have come to the conclusion that he is not likely to have taken up his abode there, and I don't think I can do better than make a round of some of these doubtful houses.