nine in the evening
Having nothing , therefore , to fear from it , he contented himself to postpone a resentment which he nevertheless resolved to take of the colonel hereafter , if he found he was in any degree a delinquent . The first step he determined to take was , on the first opportunity , to relate to Colonel James the means by which he became possessed of the letter , and to read it to him ; on which occasion , he thought he should easily discern by the behaviour of the colonel whether he had been suspected either by Amelia or the doctor without a cause ; but as for his wife , he fully resolved not to reveal the secret to her till the doctor 's return . While Booth was deeply engaged by himself in these meditations , Captain Trent came up to him , and familiarly slapped him on the shoulder . They were soon joined by a third gentleman , and presently afterwards by a fourth , both acquaintances of Mr. Trent ; and all having walked twice the length of the Mall together , it being now past nine in the evening , Trent proposed going to the tavern , to which the strangers immediately consented ; and Booth himself , after some resistance , was at length persuaded to comply . To the King 's Arms then they went , where the bottle went very briskly round till after eleven ; at which time Trent proposed a game at cards , to which proposal likewise Booth 's consent was obtained , though not without much difficulty ; for , though he had naturally some inclination to gaming , and had formerly a little indulged it , yet he had entirely left it off for many years . Booth and his friend were partners , and had at first some success ; but Fortune , according to her usual conduct , soon shifted about , and persecuted Booth with such malice , that in about two hours he was stripped of all the gold in his pocket , which amounted to twelve guineas , being more than half the cash which he was at that time worth . How easy it is for a man who is at all tainted with the itch of gaming to leave off play in such a situation , especially when he is likewise heated with liquor , I leave to the gamester to determine .