He had no opinion of any man who would fleece another, and he saw that Howel and Mr Deep were preying upon the simple, conceited Mr Simpson, and the careless, lavish Sir Samuel Spendall.

As to Mr Deep, he watched his opportunity of outwitting either of the four as it offered.
Saturday came and passed, as usual, in visiting and gambling.

A good many of the sporting men of the country called to see Howel's famous race-horse, Campaigner, in training for the St Leger, and to indulge in a little of the sporting gossip of the day, whilst their womankind indulged in more general, and equally intellectual, country gossip.

Some of the young men stayed to dinner, and when Miss Simpson had duly played her waltzes, and Netta had gone through her French songs, _vingt-et-un_ was proposed.
Owen took his customary place by Madame Duvet, and played his usual game.

But he had not the luck of the previous evening, and soon lost the five pounds he then won, and very nearly the little he possessed besides.