midnight
Mat and the landlord bore their losses with professional fortitude . Isaac pocketed his gains with the air of a man who had quite made up his mind to win , all along , and was neither surprised nor pleased . Nell 's little purse was exhausted ; but although it lay empty by his side , and the other players had now risen from the table , the old man sat poring over the cards , dealing them as they had been dealt before , and turning up the different hands to see what each man would have held if they had still been playing . He was quite absorbed in this occupation , when the child drew near and laid her hand upon his shoulder , telling him it was near midnight . ` See the curse of poverty , Nell , ' he said , pointing to the packs he had spread out upon the table . ` If I could have gone on a little longer , only a little longer , the luck would have turned on my side . Yes , it 's as plain as the marks upon the cards .