Smeaton, the engineer, was on intimate terms of acquaintance with the
Duke and Duchess of Queensbury, and often spent a leisure hour in the
evening at their house. On a few occasions, he played at cards with
them, and on one such evening, he effected the abolition of that
inconsiderate, indiscriminate play amongst people of superior rank or
fortune, which compels every one to join, and at their own stake too.
Smeaton detested cards, and his attention never following the game he
played like a boy. The game was Pope Joan; and the general run of it was
high; and the stake in Pope had accumulated to a serious sum. It was
Smeaton's turn by the deal to _double_ it; when, regardless of his
cards, he busily made minutes on a slip of paper, and put it on the
board. The Duchess eagerly inquired what it was; and he as coolly
replied, "Your grace will recollect the field in which my house stands
may be about five acres, three roods, and seven perches; which, at
thirty years' purchase, will be just my stake; and if your grace will
make a duke of me, I presume the winner will not dislike my mortgage."
The joke and the lesson had alike their weight; and the party never
after played but for the merest trifle.
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