e alone
decides, and decides with the rapidity of lightning. Amateurs certainly
assert that, with great coolness and long practice, one can, in a
measure at least, avert prolonged ill-luck. Maybe they are right, but
it is not conclusively proved. Each person takes the cards in his turn,
risks what he chooses, and when his stakes are covered, deals. If he
wins, he is free to follow up his vein of good-luck, or to pass the
deal. When he loses, the deal passes at once to the next player on the
right.

A moment sufficed for Pascal Ferailleur to learn the rules of the game.
It was already Ferdinand's deal. M. de Coralth staked a hundred francs;
the bet was taken; he dealt, lost, and handed the cards to Pascal.

The play, which had been rather timid at first--since it was necessary,
as they say, to try the luck--had now become bolder. Several players
had large piles of gold before them, and the heavy artillery--that is to
say, bank-notes--were beginning to put in appearance. But Pascal had no
false pride. "I stake a louis!" said he

The smallness of the sum attracted instant attention, and two or three
voices replied: "Taken!"

He dealt, and won. "Two louis!" he said again. This wager was also
taken; he won, and his run of luck was so remarkable that, in a
wonderfully short space of time, he won six hundred francs.

"Pass the deal," whispered Ferdinand, and Pascal followed this advice.
"Not because I desire to keep my winnings," he whispered in M. de
Coralth's ear, "but because I wish to have enough to play until the end
of the evening without risking anything."

But such prudence was unnecessary so far as he was concerned. When the
deal came to him again, fortune favored him even more than before.
He started with a hundred francs, and doubling them each time in six
successive deals, he won more than three thousand francs.

"The devil! Monsieur is in luck."--"Zounds! And he is playing for the
first time."--"That accounts for it. The inexperienced always win."

Pascal could not fail to hear these comments. The blood mantled over
his cheeks, and, conscious that he was flushing, he, as usually happens,
flushed still more. His good fortune embarrassed him, as was evident,
and he played most recklessly. Still his good luck did not desert him;
and do what he would he won--won continually. In fact, by four o'clock
in the morning he had thirty-five thousand francs before him.

For some time he had been the object of close a