Gradually, however, as habit reconciled the visitor to the din, the oaths and objurgations, together with the words “cheat, liar, knave,” &c. &c., separated themselves from the rest of the conversation, and swam like a sort of scum upon the top of the buzz.  Though all were met there for enjoyment, too, it is worthy of remark, that many of the countenances around bore strong marks of fierce and angry passions, disappointment, hatred, revenge; and many a flushed cheek and flashing eye told the often-told tale, that in the amusements which man devises for himself he is almost always sure to mingle a sufficient quantity of vice to bring forth a plentiful return of sorrow.

While all this was proceeding in full current, the door, which opened with a weight and pulley, rattled and squeaked as it was cast back, and our often-mentioned friend Green—­or the Colonel, as he was called—­entered the room.  Giving a casual glance around him, he proceeded to the other end of the saloon, where there was a small table vacant, and called in a loud but slow voice for a pint of claret.  Whether this was his habit, or whether it was merely an accidental compliance with the tavern etiquette of taking something in the house which we visit, the claret was brought to him instantly, as if it had been ready prepared, together with a large glass of the kind now called a tumbler, and a single biscuit.

Green took no notice of any one in the room, for some minutes, but ate the biscuit and drank the claret in two drafts of half a pint at a time.  When this was done, he gazed round him gravely and thoughtfully; after which he walked up to one of the tables where some people were playing at hazard, and spoke a word or two across it to the man who was holding the dice-box.  The man looked up with a frank smile, and for his only reply nodded his head, saying, “In five minutes, Colonel.”

Green then went on to the next table, and spoke in the same low voice to a person on the left-hand side, but the man looked down doggedly, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “I can’t leave my game now, Colonel.  If you had told me half an hour ago, it might have been different.”

“Oh! you are very busy in your game, are you?” said Green.  “And so I suppose are you,” he added, turning to another who was sitting at the same table.

That man answered also in the same tone; and Green, muttering to himself “Very well!” went on to two more tables at little distances from each other, from one of which only, he received a nod in answer to what he said, with the words, “Directly, Colonel—­directly.”