‘Bravo, Tony, that’s the gentleman’s way of playing the game, bravo,’ said the leader of the men, who had set up the game. Each and every one of them agreed that Tony was being a good sport about things. The leader put a large Havana cigar in his mouth and drew on it, then blew a large cloud of smoke into the already hot and sweaty atmosphere.

‘I don’t have it! I would need a month or two at least,’ the estate agent blurted out. He looked ashamed and embarrassed. His eyes were wide with horror and fear.

The leader of the poker game looked disgusted. ‘Are you telling us all that you carried on gambling and placing bets with money you don’t have, to prove a point?’ He turned to Tony. ‘I’m sorry, Tony, I would never have asked him to the table if I had known. I feel it is my debt.’ He blew out more cigar smoke into the air.

‘I’m sorry, I thought I had a winning hand. Sorry.’ The estate agent was disgraced in front of all these men. They were washing their hands of him.

‘No need for that,’ said Tony. He was gritting his teeth and playing yet another kind of poker game. ‘Everyone, take all your money back and let’s just call it a day, shall we?’ Tony gulped back his drink and stood up. ‘Gentlemen, it’s been a nice afternoon. Come on, Jake, time to go.’

Jake felt he was taking this very well indeed. Normally, Tony would have gone berserk by now, but he was being very calm about the situation, and it was evident all the other men felt he was being more than generous.

The leader of the poker game stood up and put his hand on Tony’s shoulder. Clearly, not everything he had heard about this man was true; he seemed to be a very decent chap who was prepared to let bygones be bygones.

‘Take your winnings, Tony, the house is yours. This game is my responsibility and I will sort it. As for you, sir’ – the leader looked at the estate agent – ‘you are not a gentleman, get out.’

Tony spoke up, his voice velvety, his demeanour calm, almost humble. ‘If you are sure… it is only a game, and we are all friends and businessmen. Really, I don’t mind. It’s been a nice afternoon away from the toils of work.’ Tony smiled genuinely at all of the men, making them appreciate his generosity and manner even more. He was being very decent and sporting about the whole sorry affair. He was portraying the British stiff upper lip and they were lapping it up.

The leader of the game picked up the house keys and the deeds, and nodded to one of the waiters to put the money into a bag. ‘Here, I insist you take this, Tony, if for no other reason than that I can hold my head up in public again. I have never been so embarrassed. You won it fair and square; and after all, if you’d lost, he would have happily taken your money.’ The man held out his hand to shake Tony’s; he looked very apologetic.