To return to their room up-stairs, and renew their unequal contest.

The sixty dollars which Wilkinson had received were staked, and soon passed over to his adversary.

Rendered, now, desperate by his losses and the brandy which inflamed his brain, he borrowed, once more, on his due-bill--this time to the amount of several hundred dollars.

His ill-success continued.
It was nearly eleven o'clock, when Wilkinson started up from the table, exclaiming, as he threw the cards upon the floor-- "Fool! fool! fool! One step more, and I am ruined.

Carlton!" And he fixed his eyes almost fiercely upon his companion.
"Carlton! I thought you my friend, but find, when it is almost too late to profit by the discovery, that you are a tempter.