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　　'That's two doubles and the rub,' said Mr. Chitling, with a verylong face, as he drew half-a-crown from his waistcoat-pocket.  'Inever see such a feller as you, Jack; you win everything.  Evenwhen we've good cards, Charley and I can't make nothing of 'em.'

　　Either the master or the manner of this remark, which was madevery ruefully, delighted Charley Bates so much, that hisconsequent shout of laughter roused the Jew from his reverie, andinduced him to inquire what was the matter.

　　'Matter, Fagin!' cried Charley.  'I wish you had watched theplay.  Tommy Chitling hasn't won a point; and I went partnerswith him against the Artfull and dumb.'

　　'Ay, ay!' said the Jew, with a grin, which sufficientlydemonstrated that he was at no loss to understand the reason.'Try 'em again, Tom; try 'em again.'

　　'No more of it for me, thank 'ee, Fagin,' replied Mr. Chitling;'I've had enough.  That 'ere Dodger has such a run of luck thatthere's no standing again' him.'

　　'Ha! ha! my dear,' replied the Jew, 'you must get up very earlyin the morning, to win against the Dodger.'

　　'Morning!' said Charley Bates; 'you must put your boots onover-night, and have a telescope at each eye, and a opera-glassbetween your shoulders, if you want to come over him.'

　　Mr. Dawkins received these handsome compliments with muchphilosophy, and offered to cut any gentleman in company, for thefirst picture-card, at a shilling at a time.  Nobody acceptingthe challenge, and his pipe being by this time smoked out, heproceeded to amuse himself by sketching a ground-plan of Newgateon the table with the piece of chalk which had served him in lieuof counters; whistling, meantime, with peculiar shrillness.

　　'How precious dull you are, Tommy!' said the Dodger, stoppingshort when there had been a long silence; and addressing Mr.Chitling.  'What do you think he's thinking of, Fagin?'