My hand shook as it laid down the final eight cards.
"Have I ever had any reason to think I could win ?" I found I could ask this if I kept my eyes upon the cards.
She laughed a curious, almost silent, confidential little laugh, through which a sigh of despair seemed to breathe.
I looked quickly up, but again there was that strange gleam in her eyes, a gleam of sternest resolve I should have called it under other circumstances.
"You see!" I exclaimed, pointing with a trembling but triumphant finger at the cards.

"You see! I am beaten now, in this game that seemed easy up to the very last moment.

What could I hope for in a game where the cards fell wretchedly from the very start?
If I hoped now, I'd be a hopeless fool, indeed!" [Illustration: "THAT WILL DO," I SAID SEVERELY.

"REMEMBER, THERE IS A GENTLEMAN PRESENT."] "Are you sure you know how to play this game ?" There was a sort of finality in her words that sickened me.
"I have abided always by the rules," I answered doggedly, "and I do know the rules.

Look--this game is neatly blocked by one little four-spot on that queen.