littered with strange light, as he heard his
father speak thus. The Prince did not seem to observe it, and
continued--

"Chance led me into a room where the Count de Nangis also was--he too
played. Remembering how my fortune had always seemed to surpass his, and
all the victories I had won at his expense, I could not refrain from
secretly pitying him for the fate which had again brought him into
contact with me, and which led him again to contend with one who had
uniformly triumphed over and beaten him in fortune, love, and war. We
began to play--the Count betting high, and I following his example. The
game was something between faro and lansquenet, now completely
forgotten, having been replaced by _ecarte_." The Prince saw his son
tremble at the mention of the last game; for a few moments he paused,
and then continued--

"The first games were unfortunate for me; I lost--I doubled the stakes,
and lost again. At the conclusion of the evening my hundred thousand
crowns were reduced to a hundred thousand francs. I returned home
completely overpowered, but less stupefied at my own losses than at the
success of my rival, who heretofore had been so unfortunate. On the next
day I sent to M. de Nangis, before noon, the fifty thousand francs I
owed him--on the previous evening I had on my person only fifty thousand
francs with me. That night we met again at Prince Leta's. The game
began--there were many spectators. I won ten thousand francs, and smiled
confidently at the change of fortune. It soon, however, changed once
more.--When the clock struck twelve I was ruined! 'On my honor!' said
the Count, 'I have sought for ten years to contend with you, Prince. If
gold could indemnify me for all the losses you have caused me, confess
that, to-day, we are even.' My heart was ready to burst with rage, and I
was ready to insult him. 'We will not stop here, I hope,' said M. de
Nangis; 'and I wish to have more of your money; provided I have fifty
thousand francs of yours, I ask nothing more of the god Plutus.'

"A terrible contest then took place in my mind. To confess that I had no
more money--that I was ruined, seemed impossible; a miserable false
pride prevented me. Should I, however, go on, and contract a debt which
I could not discharge? 'Prince,' said the Count, pushing ten notes of a
thousand francs towards me, 'ten thousand francs more I wish to lose,
and something tells me that luck is about to turn.' The devil spoke to
me thr