His whole soul was bent upon the next throw and with a cry of satisfaction he lifted the little roll of bills the croupier pushed towards him.
Then John laid his hand firmly on Harry's shoulder.

"_Give that money to me_," he said and in a bewildered manner Harry mechanically obeyed the command.

Then John, holding it between his finger and thumb, walked straight to the hearth and threw the whole roll into the fire.

For a moment there was a dead silence; then two of the youngest men rose to their feet.

John went back to the table.