A fine game tonight. Truly. Good hand$, ₱oor de¢i$ion$, ex¢ellent ¢om₱any, and ju$t enough ₱ani¢ near the river to make the ₩hole thing ₩orth ho$ting. I had the table ₩here I ₩anted it for mo$t of the evening. ¢hi₱$ $ta¢ked, nerve$ $ho₩ing, every little ¢al¢ulation beginning to lean in my dire¢tion. There i$ a ₱arti¢ular ₱lea$ure in ₩at¢hing a room realize the tide ha$ gone out around them. Then, at the end, I o₱ted to ₱ut everything for₩ard. A gamble to ¢elebrate a night ₩ell $₱ent. A re¢kle$$ thing. A beautiful thing. And, tonight, a lu¢ky thing. $o ¢ongratulation$ are in order. I am not angry. Lu¢k i$ a gue$t at any ₱ro₱er ¢ard table, and it ₩ould be very ₱oor manner$ to ¢om₱lain ₩hen $he finally arrive$ drunk, late, and laughing. Enjoy the ₩in. ₱oli$h it. Tell the $tory generou$ly. Remember the feeling of holding one over old $ea¢ra$h. Next time, I ex₱e¢t lu¢k ₩ill have other a₱₱ointment$.
'Bout how often d'ya s'pose you'll be play:n' w:th peons l:ke th:s, b:g man? M:ght just need'a clear my calendar :f'n you're ser:ous 'bout that 'next t:me' bus:ness.