"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,
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