This will be worth winning or losing." "As you say," gleefully chuckled Phaon, tossing the gold on the table.
"Yes, more wine, I say too.

One always enjoys play when his temples are all athrob." Agias quietly reached over, took up his opponent's dice box, and rattled it, and appeared inspecting and fingering the _tali_.[105] "You have won your throws fairly," he said, handing it back.

"Now let us invoke the decision of Fortune once more.

A libation to the Genius of Good Luck!" And instead of spilling out a few drops only, he canted the flagon too far and spattered the wine on to the floor.
[105] Four-sided dice.
"Heracles!" growled Phaon, "what a poor hazard! I have thrown four 'ones'!" "And I have all 'fours' and 'sixes,'" cried Agias, in delight, sweeping the money toward him.
"The gods blast my luck," muttered the freedman, "I shall be ruined at this rate." And he poured down more liquor.

"I have hardly five philippi left." "Come," shouted Agias, jumping up; "I make a fair offer.