d he tuk it.

'This time luck stood to my master, and he turned the queen of hearts;
and as there was only one card could beat him, the game was all as one
as his own. The baron takes up the pack, and begins to deal. "Wait,"
says my master, leaning over the table, and talking in a whisper;
"wait," says he; "what are ye doin' there wid your thumb?" for sure
enough he had his thumb dug hard into the middle of the pack.

'"Do you mane to insult me?" says the baron, getting mighty red, and
throwing down the cards on the table. "Is that what you're at?"

'"Go on with the deal," says Mr. Brooke quietly; "but listen to me," and
here he dropped his voice to a whisper, "as sure as you turn the king
of hearts, I'll send a bullet through your skull! Go on, now, and don't
rise from that seat till you 've finished the game." Faix he just did as
he was bid; he turned a little two or three of diamonds, and gettin' up
from the table, he left the room, and the next morning there was no
more seen of him in Aix-la-Chapelle. But that wasn't the end of it, for
scarce was the baron two posts on his journey when my master sends in
his name, and says he wants to speak to Count Riedensegg. There was a
long time and a great debatin', I believe, whether they'd let him in or
not; for the count couldn't make if it was mischief he was after; but at
last he was ushered into the bedroom where the other was in bed.

'"Count," says he, after he fastened the door, and saw that they was
alone, "Count, you tried a dirty thrick with that dirty spalpeen of a
baron--an ould blaguard that's as well known as Preney the robber--but
I forgive you for it all, for you did it in the way of business. I know
well what you was afther; you wanted a peep at our despatches--there, ye
needn't look cross and angry--why wouldn't ye do it, just as the baron
always took a sly glance at my cards before he played his own. Well,
now, I'm just in the humour to sarve you. They're not trating me as they
ought here, and I'm going away, and if you'll give me a few letthers
to some of the pretty women in Vienna, Katinka Batthyani, and Amalia
Gradoffseky, and one or two men in the best set, I'll send you in return
something that will surprise you."

'It was after a long time and great batin' about the bush, that the ould
count came in; but the sight of a sacret cipher did the business, and he
consented.

'"There it is," says Mr. Brooke, "there's the whole key to our
correspondence