They all talked about their winnings. Both Edward and Tonio had made a lot on a horse called Prince Charlie. Solly had won money then lost it again, and seemed to enjoy both equally. Micky did not say how he had fared, and Maisie guessed he had not bet as much as the others: he seemed too careful a person, too calculating, to be a heavy gambler.
However, with his next breath he surprised her. He said to Solly: "We're going to have a heavyweight game tonight, Greenbourne--a pound minimum. Will you join in?"
She was struck by the thought that Micky's languid posture was covering up considerable tension. He was a deep one.
Solly would go along with anything. "I'll join in," he said.
Micky turned to Tonio. "Would you care to join us?" His take-it-or-leave-it tone sounded false to Maisie.
"Count on me," Tonio said excitedly. "I'll be there!"
April looked troubled and said: "Tonio, not tonight--you promised me." Maisie suspected that Tonio could not afford to play when the minimum stake was a pound.
"What did I promise?" he said with a wink at his friends.
She whispered something in his ear, and the men all laughed.
Micky said: "It's be the last big game of the season, Silva. You'll be sorry if you miss it."
That surprised Maisie. At the Argyll Rooms she had got the impression that Micky disliked Tonio. Why was he now trying to talk Tonio into joining the card game?
Tonio said: "I'm lucky today--look how much I've won on the horses! I shall play cards tonight."
Micky glanced at Edward, and Maisie caught a look of relief in their eyes. Edward said: "Shall we all dine together at the club?"
Solly looked at Maisie, and she realized she had been provided with a ready-made excuse for not spending the evening with him. "Dine with the boys, Solly," she said. "I don't mind."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I've had a lovely day. You spend the evening at your club."
"That's settled, then," said Micky.
He and his father, Miss Cox and Edward took their leave.
Tonio and April went to place a bet on the next race. Solly offered Maisie his arm and said: "Shall we walk for a while?"
They strolled along the white-painted rail that bounded the track. The sun was warm and the country air smelled good. After a while Solly said: "Do you like me, Maisie?"
She stopped, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his cheek. "I like you a lot."
He looked into her eyes, and she was mystified to see tears behind his spectacles. "Solly, dear, what is it?" she said.
"I like you, too," he said. "More than anyone I've ever met."
