Luck had been favourable to him; so constantly favourable, that in less than an hour he had gained nearly all the gold of all the players who had ventured to hold their ground against him; so that he eventually won an enormous sum. At the moment the count and the general arrived near him, Don Cornelio's last adversary retired, completely cleaned out, and the fight ceased for want of combatants; so that the Spaniard, after looking around him, and seeing that no one cared longer to contend with him, began with unchangeable coolness thrusting into the vast pockets of his calzoneras the ounces piled up before him.
"Oh, oh!" the general said, gaily, "it seems that the Atravida company is in luck to-night, Señor Don Louis; it gains on all sides at once."
The count smiled at this double-edged compliment.
"Let us see if I shall change the vein?" Don Sebastian continued, "Will you play against me, Don Louis?"
"On one condition."
"What? I accept it beforehand."
"This: I have a peculiar custom of never playing more than three stakes."
"Good."
"Wait a minute. I play them, doubling each time."
"The deuce! And if you lose one of the three?"