He snapped the collar viciously.

He was not in an amiable mood this fair September morning.
And when some one hammered on the door he called sharply.
Grumbach entered.
"You are angry about something," he said.
"So I am, but you are always welcome." "You have overslept ?" "No; on the contrary." "Poker ?" "After a fashion," said Carmichael, the grumble gone from his voice.

"I was beaten by three of a kind." "So ?" "But I found a good hand later." "Kings." "Four ?" "Oh, no; only one.

I haven't drawn yet." "You are not telling me all." "No.

You are going to the ball to-night ?" "I would not miss it for five thousand crowns," sadly.
"You look as if you were going to a funeral instead of the greatest event of the year in Dreiberg." "I didn't sleep well either." "Out ?" "No; one does not have to go out in order not to sleep." "I'd like to know what's going on in that bullet-head of yours." "Nothing is going on; everything has stopped." "Can't you make a confidant of me, Hans ?" "Not yet, Captain." "When you are ready it may be too late.