ved that marriage should
achieve my fortune.

I used to make Magny, after his losses, give me a friendly letter of
acknowledgment to some such effect as this,--

'MY DEAR MONSIEUR DE BALIBARI,--I acknowledge to have lost to you this
day at lansquenet [or picquet, or hazard, as the case may be: I was
master of him at any game that is played] the sum of three hundred
ducats, and shall hold it as a great kindness on your part if you will
allow the debt to stand over until a future day, when you shall receive
payment from your very grateful humble servant.'

With the jewels he brought me I also took the precaution (but this was
my uncle's idea, and a very good one) to have a sort of invoice, and a
letter begging me to receive the trinkets as so much part payment of a
sum of money he owed me.

When I had put him in such a position as I deemed favourable to my
intentions, I spoke to him candidly, and without any reserve, as one man
of the world should speak to another. 'I will not, my dear fellow,' said
I, 'pay you so bad a compliment as to suppose that you expect we are
to go on playing at this rate much longer, and that there is any
satisfaction to me in possessing more or less sheets of paper bearing
your signature, and a series of notes of hand which I know you never
can pay. Don't look fierce or angry, for you know Redmond Barry is your
master at the sword; besides, I would not be such a fool as to fight a
man who owes me so much money; but hear calmly what I have to propose.

'You have been very confidential to me during our intimacy of the last
month; and I know all your personal affairs completely. You have given
your word of honour to your grandfather never to play upon parole, and
you know how you have kept it, and that he will disinherit you if he
hears the truth. Nay, suppose he dies to-morrow, his estate is not
sufficient to pay the sum in which you are indebted to me; and, were you
to yield me up all, you would be a beggar, and a bankrupt too.

'Her Highness the Princess Olivia denies you nothing. I shall not ask
why; but give me leave to say, I was aware of the fact when we began to
play together.'

'Will you be made baron-chamberlain, with the grand cordon of the
order?' gasped the poor fellow. 'The Princess can do anything with the
Duke.'

'I shall have no objection,' said I, 'to the yellow riband and the gold
key; though a gentleman of the house of Ballybarry cares little for
the titles of the Germ