out, but as gentlemanly as ever. Hay, with his fixed eye-glass and
eternally cold smile was there, and a third young man, who adored Miss
Qian, thinking her to be merely an actress, simpered across the
card-table at his goddess. The four were playing a game which involved
the gaining and losing of much money, and they had been engaged for
about an hour. Miss Stably having eaten a good dinner and commenced a
new shawl was half dosing in the corner, and paying absolutely no
attention to the players.

"It's a good thing we're hanging on our own hooks in this game," said
Miss Qian, who smoked a dainty cigarette. "Were I your partner, Sandal,"
she always addressed her friends in this free-and-easy fashion, "I'd be
losing money. What luck you have!"

"I never do seem to win," lamented Lord George. "Whenever I think I've
got a good hand, the thing pans out wrong."

"Hay has got all the money," said the simpering admirer who answered to
the name of Tempest. "He and you, Miss Qian, are the winners."

"I've made very little," she replied. "Hay's raking in the dollars hand
over fist."

"Lucky in love, unlucky at cards," said Hay, who did not like his good
fortune to be commented upon, for reasons which Miss Qian knew. "It's
the reverse with me--I'm lucky at cards--"

"And lucky in love, too," interrupted Aurora, with a grimace, "seeing
you're going to marry that Krill heiress--if she is an heiress."

"What do you mean?" asked Hay, who was dealing a new round.

"Go on with the game and don't ask questions," said Miss Qian, in a
saucy manner. "Sandal, don't stare round, but keep your eye on the
cards," and she winked stealthily at the young lord, while Hay was
exchanging a word with Tempest. The young man, who had spoken privately
to her immediately before the dinner, knew well what she meant. Had Hay
been likewise "in the know," he would scarcely have done what he did do,
and which Sandal saw him do in a few minutes.

Hay was rapidly dealing, and the cards were flying like leaves. A pile
of gold stood beside Hay's elbow, and some silver near Tempest. The game
commenced, and soon the players were engrossed, heedless of the patent
snoring of Miss Stably, who, poor old thing, had succumbed to the
lateness of the hour. Suddenly Lord George, who had been very vigilant,
felt his foot touched under the table by Miss Qian. He rose at once and
snatched up the gold standing near Hay.

"What's that for?" demanded Hay, angrily.