"Ah! that's a pretty good one! I play as I please. Why did you bet on me? who forced you to?"
"Oh! God bless me! enough of this! I have lost—that is all right; but I demand my revenge; I should say that that is one of the things no gentleman refuses."
"Your revenge—very good! I agree!"
"That is lucky for you! Sandis!"
"Here, throw the dice yourself!" said the man who had lost, offering the Gascon the box; "then you cannot say that I play badly."
"With pleasure, I prefer it so!" cried the chevalier, seizing the dicebox and resuming his seat.
Thereupon he rattled the dice in the box in his turn, and, having raised his hand above his head, threw them on the table; the throw was fourteen.
A joyful cry escaped from Passedix's lips and he looked about with a triumphant air, saying:
"That is what I call throwing! that is how we throw dice at court! Fourteen! what do you say to that, compère?"
"That's a good throw," replied his adversary; "but I may equal it."