“I see,” Holtz said slowly. “Will your wife miss you so much?”
“It would kill her if anything happened to me,” Mendetta said. He had not seen his wife for three years, but he was very fond of life, and he felt this was the only card that he could play honourably. “If it were not for my family,” he went on, drawing himself up, “I would seize this chance. It is a magnificent stroke for the revolution.”
Holtz said, “I am married too.” This was not strictly accurate, but he couldn’t let Mendetta off so easily.
Mendetta went very pale. “I didn’t know that,” he said. “You never said.”
Holtz got to his feet. “We have two minutes,” he said. “Shall we cut cards?”
Mendetta became very agitated, and although he opened and shut his mouth several times he could not speak.
Holtz took a soiled pack of cards from a drawer and tossed them on the table. “Lowest card has the magnificent opportunity,” he said, and flipped a card from the pack. It fell face upwards. It was the four of spades.
“Not very difficult to beat,” he said, shrugging. “Come, Mendetta, the General is waiting.” He went to the door and stood with his back to the table.
Mendetta pulled a card from the pack. His hand shook so that the pack became scattered. He looked with horror at the two of diamonds he had drawn. Snatching up another card, he found the six of spades and ran with trembling legs over to Holtz. “The six of spades,” he managed to gasp.
Holtz looked at him, the mocking smile again on his lips. “How fortunate you are. To be lucky with cards and to be lucky in love.”