d. As I was saying, her descriptions of places
abroad are simply charming--charming. There's where the practised
traveller comes in; no heavy and laborious work; the striking
peculiarities hit off with the most delicate appreciation: the _fine
fleur_ of difference noted everywhere. Your bourgeois goes and rams his
bull's head against everything he meets; he's in wonderment and ecstacy
almost before he lands; he stares with astonishment at a fisherwoman on
Calais pier and weeps maudlin tears over the masonry of the Sainte
Chapelle. Then Lady Adela's style--marvellous, marvellous. I give you my
word as an expert! Full of distinction; choice; fastidious; penetrated
everywhere by a certain _je ne sais quoi_ of dexterity and aptitude;
each word charged with color, as a critic might say. You have not seen
any of the sheets?" continued Mr. Quirk, with his mouth full of steak
and olives. "Dear me! You haven't quarrelled with Lady Adela, have you?
I did hear there was some little disappointment that you did not get
Lady Sybil's 'Soldiers' Marching Song' introduced at the New Theatre;
but I dare say the composer wouldn't have his operetta interfered with.
Even you are not all-powerful. However, Lady Adela is unreasonable if
she has taken offence: I will see that it is put right."

"I wouldn't trouble you--thanks!" said Lionel, rather coldly; and then,
having eaten a biscuit and drank a glass of claret and water, he went
up-stairs to the card-room.

There were two tables occupied--one party playing whist, the other
poker; to the latter Lionel idly made his way.

"Coming in, Moore?"

"Oh, yes, I'll come in. What are you playing?"

"Usual thing: sixpenny ante and five-shilling limit."

"Let's have it a shilling ante and a sovereign limit," he proposed, as
they made room for him at the table, and to this they agreed, and the
game began.

At first Lionel could get no hands at all, but he never went out;
sometimes he drew four cards to an ace or a queen, sometimes he took the
whole five; while his losses, if steady, were not material. Occasionally
he bluffed, and got a small pot; but it was risky, as he was distinctly
in a run of bad luck. At last he was dealt nine, ten, knave, queen, ace,
in different suite. This looked better.

"How many?" asked the dealer.

"I will take one card, if you please," he said, throwing away the ace.

He glanced at the card, as he put it into his hand: it was a king; he
had a straight. Then he