" You need not look like that," he said. " 1 shall



THE SWEEPSTAKES. 185

have no objection to play the return match whenever I
have the money to stake against Heath's. But I don't
dbioose to bet what I have not the means of paying, if
I should lose," and with this remark, which for the
time at least effectually silenced his antagonist, he
turned haughtily away.
The sarcasm was in truth a very telling one in the
present instance. Heath was at once grasping and
extravagant; two qualities which when found in
combination awaken most keenly in their possessor
the passion for gaming. He had caught at every wager
offered by Brackley or NicoUs, which appeared to him
to hold out a likelihood of gain ; and, inexperienced
as lie of course was in the science of betting, it was no
wonder that he soon involved himself to an amount,
which he would be wholly unable to discharge, in event
of luck going against him. The chief wagers in which
he was concerned had not yet come off, when Brackley
and NicoUs paid their visit ; but he had lost more than
a pound nevertheless, and it was fortunate fpr h™
that he had that afternoon won Tyrrell's half-
guinea^ or he would even then have been a de-
&ulter.
The two young Hussars, however, would probably
not have taken much account of the circumstance,
even if he had been unable to settle with them. They
were full of a steeple-chase, in which several of the
officers of their regiment were to ride ; and for which



186 THE WHITE BBimSWICEEES.
