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The thing was tiresome enough, but how could I have avoided
it? The blood that rushes to the head of the gambler is
certainly
not food for the intellect; and, besides, I was forced by
circumstances into an heroic attitude--and nothing is more
distasteful to a man of sense. But I had a task before me; if a
man lays bricks he should lay them well; and I do not deny that
there was a stirring of my pulse as I sat down.
Is it possible for a mind to directly influence the movements
of a little ivory ball? I do not say yes, but will you say no?
I
watched the ball with the eye of an eagle, but without straining;
I played with the precision of a man with an unerring system,
though my selections were really made quite at random; and I
handled my bets with the sureness and swift dexterity with which
a
chess-master places his pawn or piece in position to demoralize
his
opponent.
This told on the nerves of the croupier. Twice I corrected a
miscalculation of his, and before I had played an hour his hand
was
trembling with agitation.
And I won.
The details would be tiresome, but I won; and when, after six
hours of play without an instant's rest, I rose exhausted from my
chair and handed my brother the amount he had lost--I pocketed a
few thousands for myself in addition. There were some who tried
to
detain me with congratulations and expressions of admiration, but
I shook them off and led Harry outside to my car.
The chauffeur, poor devil, was completely stiff from the long
wait, and I ordered him into the tonneau and took the wheel
myself.
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