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introduction to a banker； I could not tell。 But in forcing himself upon me；
except in self…interest； I could think of no other motive。 The next evening I
discovered the motive。
He was in the smoking…room playing solitaire； and at once I recalled
that it was at Aix…les…Bains I had first seen him； and that he held a bank at
baccarat。 When he asked me to sit down I said： 〃I saw you last summer at
Aix…les…Bains。〃
His eyes fell to the pack in his hands and apparently searched it for
some particular card。
〃What was I doing？〃 he asked。
〃Dealing baccarat at the Casino des Fleurs。〃
With obvious relief he laughed。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he assented； 〃jolly place； Aix。 But I lost a pot of money
there。 I'm a rotten hand at cards。 Can't win； and can't leave 'em alone。〃 As
though for this weakness； so frankly confessed； he begged me to excuse
him； he smiled appealingly。 〃Poker； bridge； chemin de fer； I like 'em all；〃
he rattled on； 〃but they don't like me。 So I stick to solitaire。 It's dull； but
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cheap。〃 He shuffled the cards clumsily。 As though making conversation；
he asked： 〃You care for cards yourself？〃
I told him truthfully I did not know the difference between a club and a
spade and had no curiosity to learn。 At this； when he found he had been
wasting time on me； I expected him to show some sign of annoyance； even
of irritation； but his disappointment struck far deeper。 As though I had hurt
him physically； he shut his eyes； and when again he opened them I saw in
them distress。 For the moment I believe of my presence he was utterly
unconscious。 His hands lay idle upon the table； like a man facing a crisis；
he stared before him。 Quite improperly； I felt sorry for him。 In me he
thought he had found a victim； and that the loss of the few dollars he
might have won should so deeply disturb him showed his need was great。
Almost at once he abandoned me and I went on deck。 When I returned an
hour later to the smoking…room he was deep in a game of poker。
As I passed he hailed me gayly。
〃Don't scold； now；〃 he laughed； 〃you know I can't keep away from it。〃
From his manner those at the table might have supposed we were
friends of long and happy companionship。 I stopped behind his chair； but
he thought I had passed； and in reply to one of the players answered：
〃Known him for years； he's set me right many a time。 When I broke my
right femur 'chasin；' he got me back in the saddle in six weeks。 All my
people swear by him。〃
One of the players smiled up at me； and Talbot turned。 But his eyes
met mine with perfect serenity。 He even held up his cards for me to see。
〃What would you draw？〃 he asked。
His audacity so astonished me that in silence I could only stare at him
and walk on。
When on deck he met me he was not even apologetic。 Instead； as
though we were partners in crime； he chuckled delightedly。
〃Sorry；〃 he said。 〃Had to do it。 They weren't very keen at my taking a
hand； so I had to use your name。 But I'm all right now；〃 he assured me。
〃They think you vouched for me； and to…night they're going to raise the
limit。 I've convinced them I'm an easy mark。〃
〃And I take it you are not；〃 I said stiffly。
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He considered this unworthy of an answer and only smiled。 Then the
smile died； and again in his eyes I saw distress； infinite weariness； and
fear。
As though his thoughts drove him to seek protection； he came closer。
〃I'm 'in bad；' doctor；〃 he said。 His voice was frightened； bewildered；
like that of a child。 〃I can't sleep； nerves all on the loose。 I don't think
straight。 I hear voices； and no one around。 I hear knockings at the door；
and when I open it； no one there。 If I don't keep fit I can't work； and this
trip I got to make expenses。 You couldn't help me； could youcouldn't
give me something to keep my head straight？〃
The need of my keeping his head straight that he might the easier rob
our fellow…passengers raised a pretty question of ethics。 I meanly dodged
it。 I told him professional etiquette required I should leave him to the
ship's surgeon。
〃But I don't know HIM；〃 he protested。
Mindful of the use he had made of my name； I objected strenuously：
〃Well； you certainly don't know me。〃
My resentment obviously puzzled him。
〃I know who you ARE；〃 he returned。 〃You and I〃With a deprecatory
gesture； as though good taste forbade him saying who we were； he stopped。
〃But the ship's surgeon！〃 he protested； 〃he's an awful bounder！ Besides；〃
he added quite simply； 〃he's watching me。〃
〃As a doctor；〃 I asked； 〃or watching you play cards？〃
〃Play cards；〃 the young man answered。 〃I'm afraid he was ship's
surgeon on the P。 & O。 I came home on。 There was trouble that voyage；
and I fancy he remembers me。〃
His confidences were becoming a nuisance。
〃But you mustn't tell me that；〃 I protested。 〃I can't have you making
trouble on this ship； too。 How do you know I won't go straight from here
to the captain？〃
As though the suggestion greatly entertained him； he laughed。
He made a mock obeisance。 〃I claim the seal of your profession；〃 he
said。 〃Nonsense；〃 I retorted。 〃It's a professional secret that your nerves are
out of hand； but that you are a card…sharp is NOT。 Don't mix me up with a
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priest。〃
For a moment Talbot； as though fearing he had gone too far； looked at
me sharply； he bit his lower lip and frowned。
〃I got to make expenses；〃 he muttered。 〃And； besides； all card games
are games of chance； and a card…sharp is one of the chances。 Anyway；〃 he
repeated； as though disposing of all argument； 〃I got to make expenses。〃
After dinner； when I came to the smoking…room； the poker party sat
waiting； and one of them asked if I knew where they could find 〃my
friend。〃 I should have said then that Talbot was a steamer acquaintance
only； but I hate a row； and I let the chance pass。
〃We want to give him his revenge；〃 one of them volunteered。
〃He's losing； then？〃 I asked。
The man chuckled co