When he left home in the morning, it was in company with the young man named Barling.

Instead of his going to the office where he was studying, or his companion to his place of business, they went to a certain public house in Chestnut Street, where they first drank at the bar.
"Shall we go up into the billiard-room ?" said Barling, as they turned from the white marble counter at which they had been drinking.
"I don't care.

Have you time to play a game ?" replied Henry.
"Oh, yes.

We're not very busy at the store to-day." So the two young men ascended to the billiard-room, and spent a couple of hours there.

Both played very well, and were pretty equally matched.
From the billiard-room, they proceeded to another part of the house, more retired, and there, at the suggestion of Barling, tried a game at cards for a small stake.