Lord Fleetwood cut him short.

'The chances are equally the contrary!' and discomposed his argumentative mind.
As argument in such a place was impossible, he had a wild idea of example--'just to see'-- ; and though he smiled, his brain was liquefying.

Upon a calculation of the chances, merely for the humour of it, he laid a silver piece on the first six, which had been neglected.
They were now blest.

He laid his winnings on the numbed 17.

Who would have expected it?
why, the player, surely! Woodseer comported himself like a veteran: he had proved that you can calculate the chances.
Instead of turning in triumph to Lord Fleetwood, he laid gold pieces to hug the number 17, and ten in the centre.