In either
case I had found disappointment; where the stake is a matter of
indifference there can be no excitement; and besides, I had been
always in luck.
But on this occasion I had a real purpose before me, though not
an important one, and I surrendered my hat and coat to the
servant at the door with a feeling of satisfaction.
At the entrance to the main room I met Bob Garforth, leaving.
There was a scowl on his face and his hand trembled as he held it
forth to take mine.
"Harry is inside. What a rotten hole," said he, and passed on. I
smiled at his remark--it was being whispered about that Garforth
had lost a quarter of a million at Mercer's within the month--
and passed inside.
Gaudy, I have said it was, and it needs no other word. Not in
its elements, but in their arrangement.
The rugs and pictures and hangings testified to the taste of the
man who had selected them; but they were abominably disposed, and
there were too many of them.
The room, which was unusually large, held two or three leather
divans, an English buffet, and many easy chairs. A smoking-table,
covered, stood in one corner.
Groups of men were gathered about each of the three roulette
wheels ranged along the farther side.
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