"Do I remember!" replied Delange. "We had a charming game of bezique, with the women on one side and Bengal lights on the other. I was quite justified in disturbing you as I took the liberty of doing. I had lost on the previous night."
"I never said you were wrong. But, if I am not mistaken, you won the game you mention, and ever since then fortune has smiled incessantly upon you. Yesterday, again, I lost at piquet."
"I should never, of my own accord, have summoned up these sad memories," replied Delange; "but as you have mentioned them—why, yes, my debt to you has by this time become trifling—a matter of a few thousand francs at the outside."
"Shall we play double or quits?" suggested de Morin, suddenly.
Delange's eyes sparkled, and he brightened up directly, though, for the sake of appearances, he felt bound to say—
"Have we any right to infringe one of the most formal clauses of our treaty?"
"Hang the treaty!" replied de Morin. "It is such an old affair. Besides, if we are both of the same mind we can cancel it at any time."
"Oh, quite so. I am only speaking, as you can see clearly enough, in your interest. I am in luck—"
"Pray do not stand on any ceremony with me, for I have a presentiment that I shall win."
"We will see about that."