' How sincerely,
how ardently did he long to sell himself to the demon! It was eleven
o'clock, and he dreaded the play to be over as if he were a child. What
to do with himself, or where to go, he was equally at a loss. The
door of the box opened, and entered Lord Bagshot. If it must be an
acquaintance, this cub was better than any of his refined and lately
cherished companions.
'Well, Bag, what are you doing with yourself?'
'Oh! I don't know; just looking in for a lark. Any game?'
'On my honour, I can't say.'
'What's that girl? Oh! I see; that's little Wilkins. There's Moll Otway.
Nothing new. I shall go and rattle the bones a little; eh! my boy?'
'Rattle the bones? what is that?'
'Don't you know?' and here this promising young peer manually explained
his meaning.
'What do you play at?' asked the Duke.
'Hazard, for my money; but what you like.'
'Where?'
'We meet at De Berghem's. There is a jolly set of us. All crack men.
When my governor is here, I never go. He is so jealous. I suppose there
must be only one gamester in the family; eh! my covey?' Lord Bagshot,
excited by the unusual affability of the young Duke, grew quite
familiar.
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