Fane, who had won his money very easily.
For Neergard did not care how he got in, front door or back door,
through kitchen or card-room, as long as he got in somehow. All he
desired was the chance to use opportunity in his own fashion, and wring
from the forbidden circle all and more than they had unconsciously wrung
from him in the squalid days of a poverty for which no equality he might
now enjoy, no liberty of license, no fraternity in dissipation, could
wholly compensate.
He was fairly on the outer boundary now, though still very far outside.
But a needy gentleman inside was already compromised and practically
pledged to support him; for his meeting with Jack Ruthven through Gerald
had proven of greatest importance. He had lost gracefully to Ruthven;
and in doing it had taken that gentleman's measure. And though Ruthven
himself was a member of the Siowitha, Neergard had made no error in
taking him secretly into the deal where together they were now in a
position to exploit the club, from which Ruthven, of course, would
resign in time to escape any assessment himself.
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