I felt almost as sad myself.

Long before sunset the flush of triumph, the heat of battle, which had warmed my heart at noon, were gone, giving place to a chill dissatisfaction, a nausea, a despondency such as I have known follow a long night at the tables.

Hitherto there had been difficulties to be overcome, risks to be run, doubts about the end.

Now the end was certain and very near; so near that it filled all the prospect.

One hour of triumph I might have, and would have, and I hugged the thought of it as a gambler hugs his last stake, planning the place and time and mode, and trying to occupy myself wholly with it.