nsive oath threw the entire pack of cards into a
distant corner of the room.

"A fresh pack, mistress!" he shouted peremptorily.

Then as an overdressed, florid woman, with high bullhead fringe and
old-fashioned Spanish farthingale, quickly obeyed his behests, he said
with a coarse laugh:

"Fresh cards may break Master Segrave's luck and improve yours, Sir
Michael."

"Before this round begins," said Sir James Overbury who was standing
close behind Lord Walterton, also watching the game, "I will bet you,
Walterton, that Segrave wins again."

"Done with you," replied the other, "and I'll back mine own opinion by
taking a hand."

The florid woman brought him a chair, and he sat down at the table, as
Endicott once more began to deal.

"Five pounds that Segrave wins," said Overbury.

"A queen," said Endicott, turning up his card. "I pay king and ace
only."

Everyone had to pay the bank, for all turned up low cards; Segrave alone
had not yet turned up his.

"Well! what is your card, Master Segrave?" queried Lord Walterton
lightly.

"An ace!" said Segrave simply, displaying the ace of hearts.

"No good betting against the luck," said young Walterton lightly, as he
handed five sovereigns over to his friend, "moreover it spoils my
system."

"Ye play primero on a system!" quoth Sir Michael Isherwood in deep
amazement.

"Yes!" replied the young man. "I have played on it for years ... and it
is infallible, 'pon my honor."

In the meanwhile the doors leading to the second room had been thrown
open; serving men and women advanced carrying trays on which were
displayed glasses and bottles filled with Rhenish wine and Spanish
canary and muscadel, also buttered ale and mead and hypocras for the
ladies.

Editha did not occupy herself with serving but the florid woman was
most attentive to the guests. She darted in and out between the tables,
managing her unwieldy farthingale with amazing skill. She poured out the
wines, and offered tarts and dishes of anchovies and of cheese, also
strange steaming beverages lately imported into England called coffee
and chocolate.

The women liked the latter, and supped it out of mugs, with many little
cries of astonishment and appreciation of its sugariness.

The men drank heavily, chiefly of the heady Spanish wines; they ate the
anchovies and cheese with their fingers, and continually called for more
refreshments.

Play was of necessity interrupted. Groups of people eating a