of cards-remarkable hands that had occurred in the play there. It is a prett

nocle into a cold and calculating ey

rdinary. And how much did you win, Li

from his cigarette and glanced carelessly

d crowns-thereabouts,"

no has a rosy future before her

nt's two opponents, and Dasso continue

ass plate with all the particulars. Let me see, Count, you, was it not, who hel

. The players watched idly whilst he put five cards into each; afterwards placing the three in a larger envel

ola, Captain Olalla, and Lieutenant Moz

nd a thousand apologies fo

ntleboard and letting his monocle fall with a little tinkle against his shirt fr

uch an exciting hand, the cards ran badly, and after the ne

ed Dasso, who still maintained his position by th

ing's play,

ly playing the game to drag Julie int

the least one has to pa

did the same

s handsome face with its iron-grey imp

ietro was not then what it is now, bu

moment, and it was Moz

s? They weren't so wonderful, after all; you

ut not so i

ce made the other look up sharpl

ean, Dasso-mor

front of the fire, and taking the envelope from hi

derstand th

record I have written is not yet compl

is a joke

o joke. You will wr

ll-you forget, Se?o

soul of honour, and his sister's child should-but never mind. Again I say you will w

a dash at the packet, but before it could reach t

rstand me

you, a guest of my uncle's, dares

ittle difference betw

covered his face with his hands for a

you want m

How does it end-yes-'on the fifteenth of January 1908,' now add-'The hands were dealt by me, Gaspar M

an rose, throwing over t

ee you

as he saw the shining barrel of

ould murde

you shot yourself at being found out. This," and he tapped the little p

or Dasso?" he pleaded. "Before God it's the first time. You knew my mother-I'v

ed my game for me. There is no mercy in ambition, and I want you. I can mak

r and my life in yo

, that is

dy hand and up to the cruel, thin face. Then he righte

ched a stick of black wax from the writing table. Then after Mozara had sealed it with h

have no personal objection to your method of playing poker. I can be fra

night. Well, they are not far wrong. It was I who did the majority of the work, seeing that my followers faltered at the last moment. I had too much at stake to risk failure. I ha

othing. Enrico was placed where I would sit, and now he is at last paying

tenant was interested

s nephe

ose and snapp

them, a man who hates San Pietro and all in it-including his uncle? I understand he is in Afric

Spa

t is needed. It is my hour and I will want help-I will want dirty work done. To-night I sa

it you wa

ch and tell me all about these English people, Miss

uncle's house-he has been a f

ch I'm asking of you, but much or little you'll have to do it. They visit here a great deal, and

vercoat by the sleepy man-servant at the door. In the courtyard his motor was waiting, but instructi

The boulevard that terraced above the beach lay white under the cold glare o

I, Corbo had prospered exceedingly, and there was but little remaining of the old and quaint town of a decade ago. Modern hotels, rivalling the palace in splendour and far exceedi

ad pavement, followed at a respectful distance by his car. There was a slight wind off-shore an

down, his chin sunk deep in his collar, then he raised his

ings of the old town, that Dasso's home lay. It was a large medi?val-looking structure, more of a castle than a house. When first it had been erected it stood alone, but

oak doors opened. Se?or Dasso passed in between the two footmen, one of whom reli

mself a drink, then selecting a key from the bunch on his chain inserted it in the lock of a small but massive safe that was let into the wall by th

rough them hurriedly until he came to a card bearing a photo

nce, the late Queen of San Pietro looked out from the faded picture. For some minutes Se?or Dasso gazed at the eyes, looking away now and aga

ow. Yes, Queen Elene, your eyes have looked at me again to-night-in the flesh"-he laughed shortly-"but

h, then he replaced the photograph in the portfolio, putting with it the

, he ascended the wide oak