"Have someone expendable stand in front of you," Rus shrugs. "You can always figure it out after."
"That might look a bit odd."
"Yes, they did what they were told without question," Rus says. "Well, after everything had been explained to them."
Rus stares at the handkerchief. Then, realisation dawns. "Thank you." He dabs at his nose. "Hope I'm not coming down with something." He too, looks at Alf, but he's grinning again.
Alf swallows a couple of times. "Fine display sir," he clears his throat. "Now, if you can do that on a regular basis," his face shines with hope, "we might see our way clear to make a good bit of cash." Rus feigns ignorance. His face is surprising good at it. "See," Alf goes on, "I run a friendly little game and people wager on the outcome." A suggestive eyebrow waggle. "Since you're new in town, no one has seen you play before so..." he pauses significantly, "they won't know how good you are." He turns to Severus. "You'll be a big help too," he says magnanimously. "When the other blokes see how you play, they won't believe how good he is." He jerks a thumb at Rus, who chokes on his drink and wonders who is going to be a calming influence on whom.
He'd punch Sev in the arm and say: G'wan with you now! Sorry. ;)