l at
ease. He was the type of man who, in every relation of life, likes to
know exactly where he stands. Having once satisfied himself upon that
point, he was usually content to follow the routine of existence
without trouble to those around him; but until it was fully defined, he
was a prey to a vague uneasiness.

So absorbed was he by the trend of his own speculations, that for the
first five games he gave but small consideration to the play. Then,
however, his host jogged his attention with no uncertain hand.

Pausing in the shuffling of the cards, he glanced across the table.

"You're playing like an old woman, James. Are your wits wool-gathering,
that you've let me win every blessed game?"

Milbanke looked up. "Forgive me," he said hastily--"forgive me. I was
thinking----"

"--Thinking that a broken-down devil of an Irishman isn't high enough
game to fly at?" Asshlin laughed. "Well, I'll put some life into you.
I'll double the stakes. What do you say to that?"

He leant back in his chair, balancing the pack of cards in his hands.

Milbanke, with suddenly awakened observation, saw that his eyes
glittered with excitement and that his lips were set.

"Double the stakes?" he echoed doubtfully. "Oh, certainly if you think
it will improve the game. For myself I rarely play for money! I always
think that the cards----"

"--Are sufficient in themselves, I suppose?" Asshlin laughed. "Don't
you believe it, James? Or if you do, I'll teach you better. Come along!
In for a penny, in for a pound! Are you agreeable?"

For a moment Milbanke was thoughtful; then he became conscious of the
other's impatient glance.

"Why--why certainly," he said. "Anything you like!"

"Spoken like a man!" Asshlin impulsively threw down the cards, and then
gathered them up again. "I see the embalming process isn't completed
yet. The antiquarians have left a shred or two of frail humanity in
you. Well, we'll have it out. We'll put an edge on it. Come along!" He
leant forward, the reckless brightness deepening in his eyes.

But Milbanke hesitated.

"Hadn't we better settle up the first score and start afresh?" he said.
"How do we stand?"

He put his hand into his pocket. But the other waived the point.

"Is it paying at this hour of the night?" he cried. "Give me a pencil,
and I'll jot down our difference, if you're conscientious. But the
balance will be on the other side before the candles are burned out.
The devil forgot to bring