'You mean you want to bet?
'I'm perfectly ready to bet,' Richard Pratt said.
'All right, then, we'll bet the usual. A case of the wine itself 'You don't think I'll be able to name it, do you?'
'As a matter of fact, and with respect, I don't,' Mike said. He
was trying to remain polite, but Pratt was making little attempt to hide his low opinion of the whole business. Strangely, though, his next question seemed to show a certain interest.
'Would you like to increase the bet?' 'No, Richard. A case is enough.' 'Would you like to bet fifty cases?' 'That would be silly.'
Mike stood very still behind his chair at the head of the table, carefully holding the bottle in its basket. There was a whiteness about his nose now and his mouth was shut very tightly.
Pratt was sitting back in his chair, looking up at Mike. His eyes were half closed, and a little smile touched the corners of his lips. And again I saw, or thought I saw, something very evil about the man's face.
'So you don't want to increase the bet?'
'As far as I'm concerned, I don't care,' Mike said. 'I'll bet you anything you like.'
The three women and I sat quietly, watching the two men. Mike's wife was becoming annoyed; I felt that at any moment she was going to interrupt. Our meat lay in front ofus on our plates, slowly steaming.
'So you'll bet me anything I like?'
'That's what I told you. I'll bet you anything you like.'
'Even ten thousand pounds?'
'Certainly I will, if that's the way you want it.' Mike was more
confident now. He knew quite well that he could afford any sum that Pratt mentioned.
'So you say that I can name the bet?' Pratt asked again.
4
'You mean you want to bet?'I'm perfectly ready to bet,' Richard Pratt said.'All right, then, we'll bet the usual. A case of the wine itself 'You don't think I'll be able to name it, do you?''As a matter of fact, and with respect, I don't,' Mike said. Hewas trying to remain polite, but Pratt was making little attempt to hide his low opinion of the whole business. Strangely, though, his next question seemed to show a certain interest.'Would you like to increase the bet?' 'No, Richard. A case is enough.' 'Would you like to bet fifty cases?' 'That would be silly.'Mike stood very still behind his chair at the head of the table, carefully holding the bottle in its basket. There was a whiteness about his nose now and his mouth was shut very tightly.Pratt was sitting back in his chair, looking up at Mike. His eyes were half closed, and a little smile touched the corners of his lips. And again I saw, or thought I saw, something very evil about the man's face.'So you don't want to increase the bet?''As far as I'm concerned, I don't care,' Mike said. 'I'll bet you anything you like.'The three women and I sat quietly, watching the two men. Mike's wife was becoming annoyed; I felt that at any moment she was going to interrupt. Our meat lay in front ofus on our plates, slowly steaming.'So you'll bet me anything I like?''That's what I told you. I'll bet you anything you like.''Even ten thousand pounds?''Certainly I will, if that's the way you want it.' Mike was moreconfident now. He knew quite well that he could afford any sum that Pratt mentioned.'So you say that I can name the bet?' Pratt asked again.4
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