"
"It was four thousand nine hundred pounds, sir."
"Phew! Well, I wish it had been double. You are not so close as our
friend here, madam."
"No, sir; and shall I tell you why?"
"If you like, madam," said Smith, with assumed indifference.
"Mr. Ashmead is a model agent; he never allows himself to see anybody's
interests but mine. Now the truth is, another person has an interest in
my famous winnings. A gentleman handed 25 pounds to Mr. Ashmead to play
with. He did not do so; but I came in and joined 25 pounds of my own to
that 25 pounds, and won an enormous sum. Of course, if the gentleman
chooses to be chivalrous and abandon his claim, he can; but that is not
the way of the world, you know. I feel sure he will come to me for his
share some day; and the sooner the better, for money burns the pocket."
Sharpus, alias Smith, said this was really a curious story. "Now
suppose," said he, "some fine day a letter was to come asking you to
remit that gentleman his half, what should you do?"
"I should decline; it might be an _escroc._ No. Mr. Ashmead here knows
the gentleman. Do you not?"
"I'll swear to him anywhere."
"Then to receive his money he must face the eye of Ashmead.
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