inted to a heap of gold and silver, which lay promiscuously
piled up before him.

"I suppose you must give them their revenge?" whispered the other, "if
they wish for it."

"Nothing of the kind. At a public table, a winner rises when he pleases.
If I continue to sit here now, it is because that old fellow yonder has
got a rouleau in his pocket which he cannot persuade himself to break.
See, he has taken it out: for the fourth time, this is. I wonder can he
screw up his courage to risk it. Yes! he has! There go ten pieces on the
queen. Go back to your flirtation with the blonde ringlets, and don't
disturb my game. I must have that fellow's rouleau before I leave. Go
back, and I'll not tell your wife."

It was in something less than an hour after this that Barnard felt a
hand laid on his shoulder, and looking up, saw Calvert standing over
him. "Well, it took you some time to finish that old fellow, Calvert!"

"He finished _me_ which was worse. Have you got a cigar?"

"Do you mean that you lost all your winnings?"

"Yes, and your five thousand francs besides, not to speak of a borrowed
thousand from someone I have given my card to. A bore, isn't it?"

"It's more than a bore--it's a bad business. I don't know how I'll
settle it with the landlord."

"Give him a bill, he'll never be troublesome: and, as to your wife's
money, tell her frankly you lost it at play. Isn't that the best way,
Madame?" said he, addressing a young and pretty woman at his side. "I am
advising my friend to be honest with his wife, and confess that he spent
his money in very pleasant company. Come along out of this stuffy place.
Let us have a walk in the fresh cool air, and a cigar, if you have one.
I often wonder," said he, as they gained the street, "how the fellows
who write books and want to get up sensation scenes, don't come and do
something of this sort There's a marvellous degree of stimulant in being
cleaned out, not only of one's own cash, but of one's credit; and
by credit I mean it in the French sense, which says, 'Le credit est
l'argent des autres.'"

"I wish you had not lost that money," muttered the other.

"So do I. I have combativeness very strong, and I hate being beaten by
anyone in anything."

"I'm thinking of the money!" said the other, doggedly.

"Naturally, for it was yours. ''Twas mine, 'tis his,' as Hamlet has it
Great fellow, Hamlet! I don't suppose that anyone ever drew a character
wherein Gentleman was so distin