I took up the sandbox.
"When a man cheats, Monsieur le Comte, and is detected, he is invariably adjudged the loser of his stakes.

On that count alone everything that you have is now mine by rights." Again I had to quell an interruption.
"But if we wave that point, and proceed upon the supposition that you have dealt fairly and honourably with me, why, then, monsieur, you have still sufficient evidence--the word of Mademoiselle, herself, in fact--that I have won my wager.

And so, if we take this, the most lenient view of the case"-- I paused to sprinkle the sand over my writing--"your estates are still lost to you, and pass to be my property." "Do they, by God ?" he roared, unable longer to restrain himself, and leaping to his feet.

"You have done, have you not?
You have said all that you can call to mind?
You have flung insults and epithets at me enough to earn the cutting of a dozen throats.

You have dubbed me cheat and thief"-- he choked in his passion--"until you have had your fill--is it not so?
Now, listen to me, Master Bardelys, master spy, master buffoon, master masquerader! What manner of proceeding was yours to go to Lavedan under a false name?
How call you that?
Was that, perhaps, not cheating ?" "No, monsieur, it was not," I answered quietly.