It was clearly running high tonight.

For so deep a crowd thronged about the table that Ricardo could only by standing on tiptoe see the faces of the players.
Of the banker he could not catch a glimpse.

But though the crowd remained, its units were constantly changing, and it was not long before Ricardo found himself standing in the front rank of the spectators, just behind the players seated in the chairs.

The oval green table was spread out beneath him littered with bank-notes.
Ricardo turned his eyes to the left, and saw seated at the middle of the table the man who was holding the bank.

Ricardo recognised him with a start of surprise.