"But too late," said Kurz, taking up his cards, with a deep sigh, as if the rector had treated him unworthily, but he would bear it like a christian.
"Karl," said Bräsig, "how much have we in all?
"Four tricks," said Habermann.
"Come," said Kurz, "that is not fair, no telling!"
"Is it telling," said Bräsig, "when I merely ask a question? Now pay attention, Karl, I shall take one more, and if you take one, then we are out."
"I shall get mine," said Kurz.
"And I shall get mine, too," said the rector.
After a couple of rounds, Kurz laid his hand over his tricks: "So, I have mine." Diamonds were on the table, the rector ventured a cut with the queen, Bräsig followed with the king, and the poor rector had lost his trick: "How that could happen, I cannot comprehend!"
"It wasn't a whist game!" cried Kurz.
"Karl," said Bräsig, "if you had been careful, they would have lost another trick."