The Frenchman permitted a sneer to steal across his face, while Frank looked at him steadily till his eyes dropped.
At a glance, Merry saw that Bloodgood was "shakey." The fellow had been growing worse and worse as the voyage progressed, and now he seemed on the verge of a break-down.
A few minutes after entering the room Frank heard one of the spectators whisper to another that Bloodgood was "bulling the game," and had lost heavily.
Bloodgood was drinking deeply.

Mr.Slush seemed to be indulging rather freely.

The Frenchman sipped a little wine now and then, and the Englishman drank at regular intervals.
The Frenchman was perfectly cool.

The Englishman was phlegmatic.

Slush hesitated sometimes, but, to the surprise of the boys, seemed rather collected.