And so did Curtis.
"Well I'm----" the man called Lemon ejaculated.
"He's the dandiest cove at tricks we've ever struck. Try him with the
Prince and Slipper, Arnold!"
Arnold rather reluctantly assented, and Curtis burst out laughing.
"Why!" he said, "that's the simplest of all! See!" And it was done.
"You two had better come to an understanding with us or you'll not
shine to-night. How about a game of Don?"
Lemon and Arnold agreed, but they had barely begun before Curtis cried
out, "It's no use, Lemon, I can see those deuces up your sleeve.
You've some up yours, too, Arnold--the deuce of clubs and the deuce of
hearts. Moreover, you can tell our cards by notches and thumb smears
on the backs. I'll show you how." He told the cards correctly--there
was no gainsaying it. The men were overwhelmed.
"What are you, anyway?" Lemon asked; "tecs?"
"Never mind what we are!" Curtis said savagely. "We know what you
are--and that's where the rub comes in. Now what are you going to pay
us to hold our tongues?"
"Pay you!" Lemon hissed. "Why, damn you--nothing. We're not bankers.
All we've got to do is clear out and try somewhere else."
"That might not be so easy as you imagine," Hamar interposed. "We
would make it our business to have a scene first. Why not come to
terms? We'll not be over exorbitant--and consider the convenience of
not having to shift your quarters."
"Well, of all the blooming frousts I've struck, none beats this,"
Lemon said.
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