I can readily imagine you should find yourself in sympathy with Mr.
Malthus," returned the Prince. "He struck me as a man of a very original
disposition."

The young man of the cream tarts was in the room, but painfully
depressed and silent. His late companions sought in vain to lead him
into conversation.

"How bitterly I wish," he cried, "that I had never brought you to this
infamous abode! Begone, while you are clean-handed. If you could have
heard the old man scream as he fell, and the noise of his bones upon the
pavement! Wish me, if you have any kindness to so fallen a being--wish
the ace of spades for me to-night!"

A few more members dropped in as the evening went on, but the club did
not muster more than the devil's dozen when they took their places at
the table. The Prince was again conscious of a certain joy in his
alarms; but he was astonished to see Geraldine so much more
self-possessed than on the night before.

"It is extraordinary," thought the Prince, "that a will, made or unmade,
should so greatly influence a young man's spirit."

"Attention, gentlemen!" said the President, and he began to deal.

Three times the cards went all round the table, and neither of the
marked cards had yet fallen from his hand. The excitement as he began
the fourth distribution was overwhelming. There were just cards enough
to go once more entirely round. The Prince, who sat second from the
dealer's left, would receive, in the reverse mode of dealing practised
at the club, the second last card. The third player turned up a black
ace--it was the ace of clubs. The next received a diamond, the next a
heart, and so on; but the ace of spades was still undelivered. At last
Geraldine, who sat upon the Prince's left, turned his card; it was an
ace, but the ace of hearts.

When Prince Florizel saw his fate upon the table in front of him, his
heart stood still. He was a brave man, but the sweat poured off his
face. There were exactly fifty chances out of a hundred that he was
doomed. He reversed the card; it was the ace of spades. A loud roaring
filled his brain, and the table swam before his eyes. He heard the
player on his right break into a fit of laughter that sounded between
mirth and disappointment; he saw the company rapidly dispersing, but his
mind was full of other thoughts. He recognised how foolish, how
criminal, had been his conduct. In perfect health, in the prime of his
years, the heir to a throne, he had gambled