"Ihave60left.I’llgoina.IfIlose,Iloseall;butifIwimywinningsandyour10,000.”

        "It’sadeal!"hesaid.Theludicrouscouple,withtheirpreposterousandfarcicalbet,walkedintothegamblinghouse.Itwasnoisyandsmoky.Excitedshoutsofperpetualoptimistsandedcursesofdesperateloserscouldbeheardinallersoftheroom.WalkingtotheDominotable,Yokogedher60tochipsandpcedherbets;butwithinmiheywereallwipedaway.Sheshruggedphilosophicallyandsaid,

        "Ahwell!That’sthat.I’mallyoursnow.”Shedidoobad,asshehadalwayslikedRichard,sothetursweretoherliking.Richard,however,pattedherontheshouldersandsaid,

        "Cheerup!It’sok.Sinceyou’resodesperate,I’llgiveyouthe10,000,eventhoughyoulost.ButIwon’tholdyoutoyourpromiseifyouhavesedthoughts.Idon’tforcemyselfonpeople.”

        "No,I’mgame.It’sfunlosingmyselftoalovablethief"andtheysmiledateachother.

        "Butyou’thaveyourmoneyjustyet.Iheardabigshot,Mr.Kaffee,willbeingtonight,andhe’sloaded.Iwanttotrymyluckagaintonight.Thistimeformyself.”

        "Withyourluaywianother300,000orevenamillion!"saidYokoexcitedly.

        Justthen,asuddensilencereigheroomasallheadsturowardstheentraheowhegamblinghouseandhisstaffhurriedtoweletheirlong-expectedpatron,smilingandbowingobsequiously.Mr.Kaffeecamein,followedbyhisyoungaifulsecretaryIleen,carryingasuitcase.Aretinueofbodyguardscrowdedaroundhim,pushingtheirwayunceremoniouslythroughthecrowd.Heboastedtohisfollowers,saying,

        "Iamrich.Idohemoney.Iejustforthepleasureofseeingtheexpressionofthoseblightedbastardsastheylosetheirshirtstome,cabishee?"TheowhegamblinghouseandhisstaffsmiledwidelyandnoddedinagreementtoallhesaidwhiletheyledhimtotheVIProomwheresomeoftherichestgamblersandmillionaireswerescatteredaroundchattingandsmoking,waitingforhisarrival.AcctoCalifornianw,whileoswherepatronslosttotheownerswereprohibited,gamblinghousesmaylegallyprovidesiteforpeoplewhowaogambleamongthemselves,andtheycouldtakeapertageofthewinningsasission.ThereforetheownersofthegambtinghouselookeduponrichtslikeMr.Kaffeeastheirbreadandbutter,andfawhemunabashedly.Richardwouldnothavenormallybeenadmittedtothisexclusiveroom,butbeinganolder,hekheattendants,andtheywereawarehehad35,000onhim,sotheygrudginglylethimpcetheminimumbetoryhisluck.Richard’sheartwasinaflurry.Ifhelost,Jamaz’shospitalbillsandhisitmenttoYokowouldbeallgoifhewon,hiswinningswoulddoubleortriple,andifhewoimessecutively,why,hewouldbemade!Suchwasthegambler’sdream,soeasilyinftedandwhieverknewwhentostop,whichwasthecrucialpoiweenwinningandlosing.

        Mr.Kaffeesattheredetachlypuffingathiscigar,butRichard’seyesweregluedtothetable,whilergebeadsofperspirationstoodoutonhisforehead.Mr.Kaffee’slewdeyesfellonYoko,standingbesideRichardaookstockofherupanddown.Yokobowedherheadinembarrassment.Mr.Kaffeesmiledandentedrudelytohispanions,

        内容未完,下一页继续阅读