the man from glengarry-第50节

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enough　of　guidance；　though　uncertain　as　to　where　it　might　lead　him；
followed　meekly。

〃What　sort　of　a　suit　do　you　want？〃　said　Harry。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ranald；　doubtfully。　　It　had　never　occurred　to
him　that　there　could　be　any　great　difference　in　suits。　　There　had
never　been　any　choosing　of　suits　with　him。

〃Like　yours；　I　suppose；〃　he　continued；　glancing　at　Harry's　attire；
but　adding；　cautiously；　〃if　they　do　not　cost　too　much。〃

〃About　forty　dollars；〃　said　Harry；　lightly；　then；　noticing　the
dismayed　look　on　Ranald's　face；　he　added　quickly；　〃but　you　don't
need　to　spend　that　much；　you　know。　　I　say；　you　let　me　manage　this
thing。〃　　And　fortunate　it　was　for　Ranald　that　he　had　his　friend's
assistance　in　this　all…important　business；　but　it　took　all　Harry's
judgment；　skill；　and　delicacy　of　handling　to　pilot　his　friend
through　the　devious　ways　of　outfitters；　for　Ranald's　ignorance　of
all　that　pertained　to　a　gentleman's　wardrobe　was　equaled　only　by
the　sensitive　pride　on　the　one　hand　that　made　him　shrink　from
appearing　poor　and　mean；　and　by　his　Scotch　caution　on　the　other
that　forbade　undue　extravagance。　　It　was　a　hard　hour　and　a　half　for
them　both；　but　when　all　was　over；　Ranald's　gratitude　more　than
repaid　Harry　for　his　pains。

〃Come　up　to…night；〃　said　Harry；　as　they　stood　at　the　door　of　the
Hotel　du　Nord；　where　Ranald　had　taken　up　his　quarters。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　abruptly；　unconsciously　glancing　down　at　his
rough　dress。

〃Then　I'll　come　down　here；〃　said　Harry；　noting　the　glance。

〃I　will　be　very　glad；〃　replied　Ranald；　his　face　lighting　up；　for　he
was　more　afraid　than　he　cared　to　show　of　the　lonely　hours　of　that
night。　　It　would　be　the　first　night　in　his　life　away　from　his　own
kin　and　friends。　　But　he　was　not　so　glad　when；　after　tea；　as　he
stood　at　the　door　of　the　hotel；　he　saw　sauntering　toward　him　not
only　Harry；　but　also　Lieutenant　De　Lacy　and　his　friend　Mr。　Sims。

〃These　fellows　would　come　along；〃　explained　Harry；　〃I　told　them　you
didn't　want　them。〃

〃Showed　how　little　he　knew；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃I　told　him　you
would　be　delighted。〃

〃Will　you　come　in？〃　said　Ranald；　rather　grudgingly；　〃though　there
is　nothing　much　inside。〃

〃What　a　bear；〃　said　Mr。　Sims　to　Harry；　disgustedly；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Nothing　much！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃a　good　deal　I　should　say　from
what　one　can　hear。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　nothing；〃　replied　Ranald；　〃the　boys　are　having　some
games。〃

The　bar…room　was　filled　with　men　in　shanty　dress；　some　sitting　with
chairs　tipped　back　against　the　wall；　smoking　the　black　French
〃twist〃　tobacco；　others　drinking　at　the　bar；　and　others　still　at
the　tables　that　stood　in　one　corner　of　the　room　playing　cards　with
loud　exclamations　and　oaths　of　delight　or　disgust；　according　to
their　fortune。　　The　lieutenant　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd；
followed　by　the　others。

〃A　jolly　lot；　by　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　with　mild　interest　on
the　scene；　〃and　with　the　offer　of　some　sport；　too；〃　he　added；
glancing　at　the　card…players　in　the　corner；　where　men　were　losing
their　winter's　wages。

〃What　will　you　take？〃　said　Ranald；　prompted　by　his　Highland　sense
of　courtesy；　〃and　would　you　have　it　in　the　next　room？〃

〃Anywhere；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　with　alacrity；　〃a　little　brandy
and　soda　for　me；　nothing　else　in　these　places　is　worth　drinking。〃

Ranald　gave　the　order；　and　with　some　degree　of　pride；　noticed　the
obsequious　manner　of　the　bar…tender　toward　him　and　his　distinguished
guests。　　They　passed　into　an　inner　and　smaller　room；　lit　by　two　or
three　smoky　lamps　in　brackets　on　the　walls。　　In　this　room；　sitting
at　one　of　the　tables；　were　two　Frenchmen　playing　ecarte。　　As　the
lieutenant　entered；　one　of　them　glanced　up　and　uttered　an
exclamation　of　recognition。

〃Ah；　it　is　our　warlike　friend；〃　cried　De　Lacy；　recognizing　him　in
return；　〃you　play　this　game　also；〃　he　continued　in　French。

〃Not　moche；〃　said　LeNoir；　for　it　was　he；　with　a　grand　salute。
〃Will　the　capitaine　join；　and　his　friends？〃

Ranald　shook　his　head　and　refused。

〃Come　along；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　eagerly；　to　Ranald。　　The　game
was　his　passion。　　〃Mr。　Sims；　you　will；　Harry；　what　do　you　say？〃

〃I　will　look　on　with　Ranald。〃

〃Oh；　come　in　Macdonald；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃the　more　the　better；
and　we'll　make　it　poker。　　You　know　the　game？〃　he　said；　turning　to
LeNoir；　〃and　your　friendI　have　not　the　pleasure〃

〃Mr。　Rouleau；〃　said　Ranald　and　LeNoir　together；　presenting　the
young　Frenchman　who　spoke　and　looked　like　a　gentleman。

〃Do　you　play　the　game？〃　said　the　lieutenant。

〃A　verie　leetle；　but　I　can　learn　him。〃

〃That's　right；〃　cried　the　lieutenant；　approvingly。

〃What　do　you　say；　Ranald；〃　said　Harry；　who　also　loved　the　game。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　shortly；　〃I　never　play　for　money。〃

〃Make　it　pennies；〃　said　Mr。　Sims；　with　a　slight　laugh。

〃Go　on；　De　Lacy；〃　said　Harry；　angry　at　Mr。　Sims's　tone。　　〃You've
got　fourthat'll　do！〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　De　Lacy；　his　easy；　languid　air　returning　to
him。　　〃What　shall　it　bequarter　chips　with　a　dollar　limit？　　Brandy
and　soda；　Mr。　LeNoir？　　And　you；　Mr。　Rouleau？　　Two　more　glasses；
garcon；〃　and　the　game　began。

From　the　outset　Rouleau　steadily　won　till　his　chips　were　piled　high
in　front　of　him。

〃You　play　the　game　well；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃Shall　we　raise　the
limit？〃

〃As　you　lak；〃　said　Rouleau；　with　a　polite　bow。

〃Let's　make　it　five　dollars；〃　suggested　Mr。　Sims；　to　which　all
agreed。

But　still　the　game　was　Rouleau's；　who　grew　more　and　more　excited
with　every　win。　　The　lieutenant　played　coolly；　and　with　seeming
indifference；　in　which　he　was　imitated　by　Mr。　Sims；　the　loss　of　a
few　dollars　being　a　matter　of　small　moment　to　either。

〃It　would　make　it　more　interesting　if　we　made　it　a　dollar　to　play；〃
at　length　said　Mr。　Sims。　　The　suggestion　was　accepted；　and　the　game
went　on。　　At　once　the　luck　began　to　turn；　and　in　a　half　hour's　play
Rouleau's　winnings　disappeared　and　passed　over　to　the　lieutenant's
hand。　　In　spite　of　his　bad　luck；　however；　Rouleau　continued　to　bet
eagerly　and　recklessly；　until　Ranald；　who　hated　to　see　the　young
lumberman　losing　his　season's　wages；　suggested　that　the　game　come
to　an　end。

〃The　night　is　early；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃but　if　you　have　had
enough；〃　he　said；　bowing　to　LeNoir　and　Rouleau。

〃Non！〃　exclaimed　Rouleau；　〃the　fortune　will　to　me　encore。　　We　mak
it　de　two…dollar　to　play。　　Dat　will　brak　de　luck。〃

〃I　think　you　ought　to　stop　it；〃　said　Harry。

But　the　demon　of　play　had　taken　full　possession　of　both　Rouleau　and
the　lieutenant　and　they　were　not　to　be　denied。　　Rouleau　took　from
his　pocket　a　roll　of　bills　and　counted　them。

〃Fifty　dollars；〃　he　cried。　　〃Bon！　　I　play　him；　me！〃

The　others　deposited　a　like　sum　before　them；　and　the　game　proceeded。
The　deal　was　De　Lacy's。　　After　a　few　moment's　consideration；　Mr。
Sims　and　LeNoir　each　drew　three　cards。　　In　a　tone　of　triumph　which
he　could　not　altogether　suppress；　Rouleau　exclaimed　〃Dees　are　good
enough　for　me。〃　　The　lieutenant　drew　one　card；　and　the　betting
began。

Twice　Rouleau；　when　it　came　to　his　turn；　bet　the　limit；　the　others
contenting　themselves　by　〃raising〃　one　dollar。　　On　the　third　round
LeNoir；　remarking；　〃Das　leetle　too　queek　for　me；〃　dropped　out。

Once　more　Rouleau　raised　the　bet　to　the　limit；　when　Mr。　Sims
refused；　and　left　the　game　to　him　and　the　lieutenant。　　There　was　no
mistaking　the　eager　triumph　in　the　Frenchman's　pale　face。　　He　began
to　bet　more　cautiously；　his　only　fear　being　that　his　opponent　would
〃call〃　too　soon。　　Dollar　by　dollar　the　bet　was　raised　till　at　last
Rouleau　joyously　gathered　his　last　chips；　raised　the　bet　once　more
by　the　limit；　exclaiming；　as　he　did　so；　〃Alas！　dere　ees　no　more！〃

He　had　played　his　season's　wages　that　night；　but　now　he　would
recover　all。

De　Lacy；　whose　coolness　was　undisturbed；　though　his　face　showed
signs　of　his　many　brandy…and…sodas；　covered　the　bet。

〃Hola！〃　exclaimed　Rouleau　in　triumph。　　〃Eet　ees　to　me！〃　　He　threw
down　his　cards　and　reached　for　the　pile。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　quietly　looking　at　Rouleau's
cards。　　〃Ah；　a　straight　flush；　queen　high。〃　　Coolly　he　laid　his
cards　on　the　table。　　〃Thought　you　might　have　had　the　ace；〃　he　said；
languidly；　leaning　back　in　his　chair。　　He；　too；　held　a　straight
flush；　but　with　the　king。

Rouleau　gazed　thunderstruck。

〃Mort　Dieu！〃　he　exclaimed；　excitedly。　　〃The　deal　was　from　you。〃

〃Mine；〃　said　De　Lacy；　quietly；　looking　up　at　the　excited　Frenchman。

〃Ah；〃　cried　Rouleau；　beside　himself。　　〃It　iswhat　you　call？　　One
cheat！　cheat！〃

The　lieutenant　sat　up　straight　in　his　chair。

〃Do　you　mean　that　I　cheated　you？〃　he　said；　with　slow　emphasis。
〃Beware　what　you　say。〃

〃Oui！〃　cried　the　Frenchman；　〃sacr…r…reso　I　mean！〃

Before　the　words　had　well　left　his　lips；　and　before　any　one　could
interfere　De　Lacy　shot　out　his　arm；　lifted　the　Frenchman　clear　off
his　feet；　and　hurled　him　to　the　floor。

〃Stop！　you　coward！〃　　Ranald　stood　before　the　lieutenant　with　eyes
blazing　and　breath　coming　quick。

〃Coward？〃　said　De　Lacy；　slowly。

〃You　hit　a　man　unprepared。〃

〃You　are　prepared；　I　suppose；〃　replied　De　Lacy；　deliberately。

〃Yes！　　Yes！〃　cried　Ranald；　eagerly；　the　glad　light　of　battle　coming
into　his　eyes。