and a pin. It is a duty, surely, to give a
lesson now and again to the foolish. It is
serving the world and society.

"Now," I said, coolly, "what if I tell
you how he ought to play to win? What
will you say to my common sense then?"

"What will I say? Your common
sense! I am sure I can't tell."

"You shall be told, then; and you be
witness, Grainger."

Red had come up three times. " Now,"
I said, " let him put on black."

"No," said Grainger. " Don't you see
—he is going for the run."

"Well, what do you say?" I said to
D'Eyncourt.

"Nothing," he answered; " why should
I?"

The player did " go for the run," with, his
"maximum," and away it fluttered to the
green leather tomb of the capulets, the
slab of which shut down on it with a fatal
click. I said nothing. The player then
waited until two deals had intervened.

"Now," I said, " let him put on red, and
he will win."

He almost seemed to have heard me.
Down went his maximum, pushed across
with trembling fingers; and in a few
seconds was heard the chant, " Rouge
gagne, et couleur."

I will not dwell on this, for fear of tiring
my pet; but I will tell the whole scene to
her later. But " suffice it to say," as the
novelists are fond of repeating, I really
foretold nearly every successful colour, and,
by some mysterious rapport, the count
seemed to follow or anticipate every prophecy
of mine.

"By G—," said Grainger, in a strange
excitement, "it's devilry or magic! For
Heaven's sake lend me, do, some one, three
naps—only three—one, then—one! Well,
then a double florin; you won't refuse
that?"

"Recollect your promise," I whispered
to him—"your resolution, your solemn
resolution."

"Folly!" he said; "you are robbing
me at this moment; it is cruel of you."

I was watching D'Eyncourt. He was
biting his lips with vexation. I could not
resist.

"You won't admit my common sense," I
said; " it is not to be expected."

"It is easy to play a game with a pin and
a card; back your opinion with money, and
I'll do the same."

"I never play," I said, coldly, "and
never shall. There are some whom it is
hopeless to convince of the difference of a
mere mathematical study and a pursuit so
dangerous and deadly to both soul and
body."

"Caution, religion, and the theological
virtues. Good. Now, there go my five
louia on red."

"If you wait, about twice more," I said,
calmly, " you would have a better chance.
I hardly think red could come up now."

"Rouge perd, et couleur" came before he
could actually answer me. I went on.

"I dare say there might be a chance for
you now, if you would risk it."

"I shall go on black," he said, putting
down ten louis.

Again, "Rouge gagne, et couleur!"

So it went on, I, with a most extraordinary
success in my guess, being astray not
more than three or four times; and when
I showed the card, the pin-holes all certainly
fell into the shape I had predicted.
Mr. D'Eyncourt, however, had lost over
fifty louis.

"This comes," he said, " of playing with
people talking about you, pestering you
with systems and cards and pins. There,
Manby—there's a gentleman here turned
prophet. He'll tell you something about
the Derby."

Before I could reply he was gone, and I
turned to Grainger.

"He is inclined to be insolent," I said,
"and I am not inclined to put up with it.
Like any one who cannot bear to be told
they are in the wrong, he wishes to give
vent to his own spleen and malice."

Grainger was hardly attending.

"Why didn't you let me? I might
have been rich this moment; I'd have
made three hundred louis in the wake of
that fellow. I might have been free from
him, and, but for my slavery, I might have
paid my bill at the lodgings."

"Is it so much?" I asked.

"Two hundred florins—a wretched sum.
But he is insolent enough for its being
ten thousand."

"Is that all?" I said. "We are very
poor, as you know, Grainger; but if a hundred
florins will help, I can let you have
that much, but you must solemnly swear;
not a florin goes down on that green cloth.
An oath on your Bible, mind."

"I'll swear anything," he said. "You
are noble, and have always treated me
nobly, whatever I may have said. Still,"
he added, suddenly, "you know it is not
so heavy an obligation. You admit that?
Only a few pounds, you know."