ish delight of
winning, of seeing the pile of gold growing in front of him. He had
never handled money before; it was like a fascinating yet insidious toy
which he could not help but finger.

"Are you not playing rather high, gentlemen?" came in dulcet tones from
Mistress Endicott; "I do not allow high play in my house. Master
Lambert, I would fain ask you to cease."

"I am more than ready, madam," said Richard with alacrity.

"Nay! but I am not ready," interposed Segrave vehemently. "Nay! nay!" he
repeated with feverish insistence, "Master Lambert cannot cease playing
now. He is bound in honor to give me a chance for revenge.... Double or
quits, Master Lambert! ... Double or quits?"

"As you please," quoth Lambert imperturbably.

"Ye cannot cut to each other," here interposed Endicott didactically.
"The rules of primero moreover demand that if there are but two players,
a third and disinterested party shall deal the cards."

"Then will you cut and deal, Master Endicott," said Segrave impatiently;
"I care not so long as I can break Master Lambert's luck and redeem mine
own.... Double or quits, Master Lambert.... Double or quits.... I shall
either owe you two hundred pounds or not one penny.... In which case we
can make a fresh start...."

Lambert eyed him with curiosity, sympathetically too, for the young man
was in a state of terrible mental agitation, whilst he himself felt
cooler than before.

Endicott dealt each of the two opponents a card face downwards, but even
as he did so, the one which he had dealt to Lambert fluttered to the
ground.

He stooped and picked it up.

Segrave's eyes at the moment were fixed on his own card, Lambert's on
the face of his opponent. No one else in the room was paying any
attention to the play of the two young men, for everyone was busy with
his own affairs. Play was general, the hour late. The wines had been
heady, and all tempers were at fever pitch.

No one, therefore, was watching Endicott's movements at the moment when
he ostensibly stooped to pick up the fallen card.

"It is not faced," he said, "what shall we do?"

"Give it to Master Lambert forsooth," quoth Mistress Endicott, "'tis
unlucky to re-deal ... providing," she added artfully, "that Master
Segrave hath no objection."

"Nay! nay!" said the latter. "Begad! why should we stop the game for a
trifle?"

Then as Lambert took the card from Endicott and casually glanced at it,
Segrave declared:

"Queen!"