stake.

"My credit is good for it," replied the banker, growing redder and
redder; it seemed as though he were going to burst. While the banker was
distributing the cards, absolute silence reigned. Don Alfonso's was a
seven.

"That is the end of it," said the banker, with ill-concealed dismay,
throwing the pack down on the table.

Immediately he began to pay the smaller stakes, leaving Saavedra's till
the last. When he came to him there were left only twenty-nine thousand
reals.

"I shall owe you twelve thousand," said he, handing over all that he
had.

Don Alfonso took it and thrust it into his pocket angrily. The game was
over. The banker, mopping the sweat from his forehead with his
handkerchief, went over to the Andalusian, who had taken his seat on a
sofa, and was calmly reading a newspaper.

"You have fifteen thousand duros in your pocket, my boy."

"I don't know," replied Don Alfonso, without looking up.

"But I know: Villar and Gonzalez lost nine thousand, and we more than
twelve thousand. All the rest put together did not take six thousand."

"Pish! it is quite possible," replied the _caballero_.

"Any one to see your face would say that what you carried in your pocket
was fifteen thousand stones. See here, lend me thirty thousand reals,
and that will put you in good humor."

Don Alfonso, without saying a word, took out his pocket-book, and gave
him a handful of bills.

"Saavedra, you are on the downward track. The other evening I saw you in
a box at the theatre making love to a mighty pretty girl. Be careful! on
the day least expected you will be getting married."

Don Alfonso took out his watch, and, after looking at it, smiled coldly,
saying:--

"At this very moment I am going to run away with that same little girl.
I am going abroad with her."

"I would not sell myself cheap," replied the other, without once
thinking that it might be true. "But you would soon get tired of it. You
and I are just alike; we are too old for such escapades."

"Good by, Gubells."

"Good by, my boy. Don't fail to be on hand to-night, for there is going
to be a game of golfe."

"Haven't I told you that I am going to run away with that little girl?"
rejoined the _caballero_, at the door, with the same cold smile on his
lips.

"A nice little piece!... Come back as soon as you can ... won't you? and
don't fail to bring the marquis if you meet him."

Saavedra slowly descended the carpeted staircase of the Ci