eadily as ever when he
was not smoking. And this constant pursing of his lips seemed to
denote just a pensive interest.

His bank was nearly done now; there were only a few cards left.
Opposite to him was a welter of party-colored counters that the
croupier had not yet had time to sort out and add to the rouleaux
already made; there were also a fair accumulation of notes and several
little stacks of gold--in all, not less than five-hundred pounds,
certainly. Happy banker! How easily had he won in a few minutes more
than I, with utmost pains, could win in many months! I wished I were
he. His lucre seemed to insult me personally. I disliked him, and yet
I hoped he would not take another bank. I hoped he would have the good
sense to pocket his winnings and go home. Deliberately to risk the
loss of all those riches would intensify the insult to me.

"Messieurs, la banque est aux encheres." There was some brisk bidding
while the croupier tore open and shuffled two new packs. But it was as
I feared: the gentleman whom I resented kept his place.

"Messieurs, la banque est faite. Quinze-mille francs a la banque.
Messieurs, les cartes passent. Messieurs, les cartes passent."

Turning to go, I encountered a friend, one of the race-weekers, but in
a sense a friend.

"Going to play?" I asked.

"Not while Jimmy Pethel's taking the bank," he answered, with a laugh.

"Is that the man's name?"

"Yes. Don't you know him? I thought every one knew old Jimmy Pethel."

I asked what there was so wonderful about "old Jimmy Pethel" that every
one should be supposed to know him.

"Oh, he's a great character. Has extraordinary luck--always."

I do not think my friend was versed in the pretty theory that good luck
is the subconscious wisdom of them who in previous incarnations have
been consciously wise. He was a member of the stock exchange, and I
smiled as at a certain quaintness in his remark. I asked in what ways
besides luck the "great character" was manifested. Oh, well, Pethel
had made a huge "scoop" on the stock exchange when he was only
twenty-three, and very soon had doubled that and doubled it again; then
retired. He wasn't more than thirty-five now, And then? Oh, well, he
was a regular all-round sportsman; had gone after big game all over the
world and had a good many narrow shaves. Great steeple-chaser, too.
Rather settled down now. Lived in Leicestershire mostly. Had a big
place there. Hunted fiv