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in all my experience； at home and abroad。 One； with a brown face
and a broken nose； was presented to us by the title of
〃Commander；〃 and was described as a person of great wealth and
distinction in Peru； traveling for amusement。 The other wore a
military uniform and decorations； and was spoken of as 〃the
General。〃 A bold bullying manner； a fat sodden face； little
leering eyes； and greasy…looking hands； made this man so
repellent to me that I privately longed to kick him。 Romayne had
evidently been announced； before our arrival； as a landed
gentleman with a large income。 Men and women vied in servile
attentions to him。 When we went into the dining…room； the
fascinating creature who sat next to him held her fan before her
face； and so made a private interview of it between the rich
Englishman and herself。 With regard to the dinner； I shall only
report that it justified Captain Peterkin's boast； in some degree
at least。 The wine was good； and the conversation became gay to
the verge of indelicacy。 Usually the most temperate of men；
Romayne was tempted by his neighbors into drinking freely。 I was
unfortunately seated at the opposite extremity of the table； and
I had no opportunity of warning him。
The dinner reached its conclusion； and we all returned together；
on the foreign plan； to coffee and cigars in the drawing…room。
The women smoked； and drank liqueurs as well as coffee； with the
men。 One of them went to the piano； and a little impromptu ball
followed； the ladies dancing with their cigarettes in their
mouths。 Keeping my eyes and ears on the alert； I saw an
innocent…looking table； with a surface of rosewood； suddenly
develop a substance of green cloth。 At the same time； a neat
little roulette…table made its appearance from a hiding…place in
a sofa。 Passing near the venerable landlady； I heard her ask the
servant； in a whisper； 〃if the dogs were loose？〃 After what I had
observed； I could only conclude that the dogs were used as a
patrol； to give the alarm in case of a descent of the police。 It
was plainly high time to thank Captain Peterkin for his
hospitality； and to take our leave。
〃We have had enough of this；〃 I whispered to Romayne in English。
〃Let us go。〃
In these days it is a delusion to suppose that you can speak
confidentially in the English language； when French people are
within hearing。 One of the ladies asked Romayne； tenderly； if he
was tired of her already。 Another reminded him that it was
raining heavily （as we could all hear）； and suggested waiting
until it cleared up。 The hideous General waved his greasy hand in
the direction of the card table； and said； 〃The game is waiting
for us。〃
Romayne was excited； but not stupefied； by the wine he had drunk。
He answered； discreetly enough； 〃I must beg you to excuse me； I
am a poor card player。〃
The General suddenly looked grave。 〃You are speaking； sir； under
a strange misapprehension；〃 he said。 〃Our game is
lansquenetessentially a game of chance。 With luck； the poorest
player is a match for the whole table。〃
Romayne persisted in his refusal。 As a matter of course； I
supported him； with all needful care to avoid giving offense。 The
General took offense； nevertheless。 He crossed his arms on his
breast； and looked at us fiercely。
〃Does this mean； gentlemen； that you distrust the company？〃 he
asked。
The broken…nosed Commander； hearing the question； immediately
joined us； in the interests of peacebearing with him the
elements of persuasion； under the form of a lady on his arm。
The lady stepped briskly forward； and tapped the General on the
shoulder with her fan。 〃I am one of the company；〃 she said； 〃and
I am sure Mr。 Romayne doesn't distrust _me_。〃 She turned to
Romayne with her most irresistible smile。 〃A gentleman always
plays cards；〃 she resumed； 〃when he has a lady for a partner。 Let
us join our interests at the tableand； dear Mr。 Romayne； don't
risk too much！〃 She put her pretty little purse into his hand；
and looked as if she had been in love with him for half her
lifetime。
The fatal influence of the sex； assisted by wine； produced the
inevitable result。 Romayne allowed himself to be led to the card
table。 For a moment the General delayed the beginning of the
game。 After what had happened； it was necessary that he should
assert the strict sense of justice that was in him。 〃We are all
honorable men；〃 he began。
〃And brave men；〃 the Commander added； admiring the General。
〃And brave men；〃 the General admitted； admiring the Commander。
〃Gentlemen； if I have been led into expressing myself with
unnecessary warmth of feeling； I apologize； and regret it。
〃Nobly spoken！〃 the Commander pronounced。 The General put his
hand on his heart and bowed。 The game began。
As the poorest man of the two I had escaped the attentions
lavished by the ladies on Romayne。 At the same time I was obliged
to pay for my dinner； by taking some part in the proceedings of
the evening。 Small stakes were allowed； I found； at roulette；
and； besides； the heavy chances in favor of the table made it
hardly worth while to run the risk of cheating in this case。 I
placed myself next to the least rascally…looking man in the
company； and played roulette。
For a wonder； I was successful at the first attempt。 My neighbor
handed me my winnings。 〃I have lost every farthing I possess；〃 he
whispered to me； piteously； 〃and I have a wife and children at
home。〃 I lent the poor wretch five francs。 He smiled faintly as
he looked at the money。 〃It reminds me；〃 he said； 〃of my last
transaction； when I borrowed of that gentleman there； who is
betting on the General's luck at the card table。 Beware of
employing him as I did。 What do you think I got for my note of
hand of four thousand francs？ A hundred bottles of champagne；
fifty bottles of ink； fifty bottles of blacking； three dozen
handkerchiefs； two pictures by unknown masters； two shawls； one
hundred maps； _and_five francs。〃
We went on playing。 My luck deserted me； I lost； and lost； and
lost again。 From time to time I looked round at the card table。
The 〃deal〃 had fallen early to the General； and it seemed to be
indefinitely prolonged。 A heap of notes and gold （won mainly from
Romayne； as I afterward discovered） lay before him。 As for my
neighbor； the unhappy possessor of the bottles of blacking； the
pictures by unknown masters； and the rest of it； he won； and then
rashly presumed on his good fortune。