The Prince himself was no exception to this rule, and the first gentleman in England was the most avowed worshipper of Hazard in the land.
"Chance, by all means," quoth His Highness gaily.
"Chance! Chance!" repeated the others eagerly.
In the midst of so hostile a crowd, Chauvelin felt it unwise to resist.
Moreover, one second's reflection had already assured him that this throwing of the dice could not seriously interfere with the success of his plans.

If the meeting took place at all--and Sir Percy now had gone too far to draw back--then of necessity it would have to take place in France.
The question of time and conditions of the fight, which at best would be only a farce--only a means to an end--could not be of paramount importance.
Therefore he shrugged his shoulders with well-marked indifference, and said lightly: "As you please." There was a small table in the centre of the room with a settee and two or three chairs arranged close to it.

Around this table now an eager little group had congregated: the Prince of Wales in the forefront, unwilling to interfere, scarce knowing what madcap plans were floating through Blakeney's adventurous brain, but excited in spite of himself at this momentous game of hazard the issues of which seemed so nebulous, so vaguely fraught with dangers.

Close to him were Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, Lord Anthony Dewhurst, Lord Grenville and perhaps a half score gentlemen, young men about town mostly, gay and giddy butterflies of fashion, who did not even attempt to seek in this strange game of chance any hidden meaning save that it was one of Blakeney's irresponsible pranks.
And in the centre of the compact group, Sir Percy Blakeney in his gorgeous suit of shimmering white satin, one knee bent upon a chair, and leaning with easy grace--dice-box in hand--across the small gilt-legged table; beside him ex-Ambassador Chauvelin, standing with arms folded behind his back, watching every movement of his brilliant adversary like some dark-plumaged hawk hovering near a bird of paradise.
"Place first, Monsieur ?" suggested Sir Percy.
"As you will, sir," assented Chauvelin.
He took up a dice-box which one of the gentlemen handed to him and the two men threw.
"'Tis mine, Monsieur," said Blakeney carelessly, "mine to name the place where shall occur this historic encounter, 'twixt the busiest man in France and the most idle fop that e'er disgraced these three kingdoms....

Just for the sake of argument, sir, what place would you suggest ?" "Oh! the exact spot is immaterial, Sir Percy," replied Chauvelin coldly, "the whole of France stands at your disposal." "Aye! I thought as much, but could not be quite sure of such boundless hospitality," retorted Blakeney imperturbably.
"Do you care for the woods around Paris, sir ?" "Too far from the coast, sir.