You oughtn't to owe
horse bills, you ought to ride other chaps' nags. You know no more about
betting than I do about Algebra: the chaps will win your money as sure as
you sport it. Hang me if you are not trying everything. I saw you sit
down to ecarte last week at Trumpington's, and taking your turn with the
bones after Ringwood's supper. They'll beat you at it, Pen, my boy, even
if they play on the square, which. I don't say they don't, nor which I
don't say they do, mind. But I won't play with 'em. You're no match for
'em. You ain't up to their weight. It's like little Black Strap standing
up to Tom Spring,--the Black's a pretty fighter but, Law bless you, his
arm ain't long enough to touch Tom,--and I tell you, you're going it with
fellers beyond your weight. Look here--If you'll promise me never to bet
nor touch a box nor a card, I'll let you off the two ponies."
But Pen, laughingly, said, "that though it wasn't convenient to him to
pay the two ponies at that moment, he by no means wished to be let off
any just debts he owed;" and he and Foker parted, not without many dark
forebodings on the latter's part with regard to his friend, who Harry
thought was travelling speedily on the road to ruin.
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