ndiman, stubbornly "--that hat on the model's
head."

"Bah! Senor, it is fatiguing to fight, like children, with pillows in
the dark. You want that Russian letter. Why not say so?"

For a full half-minute their eyes met in silent thrust and parry; it
was to be a duel, then, and each was an antagonist to be respected.

"If it is a question of money--" said Indiman, slowly.

"It is not."

"Then I must take it where I find it."

"So it appears," answered L. Hernandez, placidly. "But you must first
find it. Eh, my bold young man?"

"Be tranquil, madame--"

"I am tranquil. You are but wasting your time."

"I have it to spend in unlimited quantity. I am a solitaire-player."

"Oh, you play solitaire. How many variations do you know?"

"One hundred and thirty-five."

"I can count one hundred and forty-two."

"Including the 'Bridge'?"

"The famous 'Bridge'! Do you know it, then?"

"I learned it from a Polish gentleman in Belgrade."

"It is difficult."

"Enormously so. It may come out once in a hundred times."

Madame L. Hernandez produced a pack of cards from underneath the
counter. "Will you oblige me, senor? I am anxious to see the play."

Indiman proceeded with the explanation. It was too intricate for me to
follow. I could only understand that, with the solitaire properly
resolved, the cards should finally divide themselves into four packs,
headed respectively by the ace of clubs, king of diamonds, queen of
spades, and knave of hearts. Indiman tried it twice, but the
combination would not come out.

"We will try it again to-morrow," said Indiman, rising.

"With pleasure. Good-day, gentlemen. Mind the step."

As we walked towards Chatham Square a stout man joined us, a man with
one ear noticeably larger than the other. "Mr. Indiman--" he began,
deferentially.

"What, you, Brownson?"

"Yes, sir. I have an assignment on this job from the Central Office. I
saw you coming out of L. Hernandez's just now. Smooth old bird, ain't
it?"

"You on this case?" said Indiman, stupefied.

"Yes, sir. You see, the parties concerned finally determined to put it
into our hands, and they'd have been enough sight better off if they'd
done it in the beginning. Bless you! it's no great shakes of a lay-out.
There's the letter--a single sheet of note-paper written in violet ink
on one side only, and we know the party who has it up her sleeve. L.
Hernandez--I don't mind saying it, seeing that you're also on. I'll do
t