four in
the morning
`` I owe you twenty-eight pounds , Johnny , '' Lionel said , without more ado ; and he took out his note-book and jotted it down . Then they went on again . Now the game of poker is played in calm ; happy is he who can preserve a perfectly expressionless face through all its vicissitudes . But the game of whiskey-poker -LRB- which is no game -RRB- is played amid vacuous excitement and strong language and derisive laughter -- especially towards four in the morning . The whole of this little party seemed ready to go ; in fact , they had all risen and were standing round the table ; but nevertheless they remained , while successive hands were dealt , face upwards . At first only a sovereign each was staked , then two , then three , then four , then five -- and there a line was drawn . But in staking five sovereigns every time , with four to one against you , a considerable amount of money can be lost ; and Lionel had been in ill-luck all the sitting .