"Stay near me, and bring me luck, Florine."
The game had begun. It was different from any game that Clancy had ever seen. She watched eagerly. Zenda dealt five cards, one to each player, face down. Then he dealt five more, face up.
"You're high," he said to Weber. Clancy noted that Weber's exposed card was a king.
"I'll bet one berry," said Weber. He tossed a white chip toward the center of the table.
"How much is that?" whispered Clancy.
Weber laughed.
"A berry, Florine, is a buck, a seed—a dollar."
"Oh!" said Clancy. Vaguely she felt admonished.
Grannis sat next to Weber. He gingerly lifted the edge of the first card dealt to him and peeked at it. Then he eyed the eight of diamonds that lay face up before him.