Irene, who tried to explain while he rubbed the tip of his beak in
order to conceal his sly smile, he went into the billiardroom.

"Padre Fernandez, would you like to take a hand?" asked Fray Sibyla.

"I'm a very poor player," replied the friar with a grimace.

"Then get Simoun," said the General. "Eh, Simoun! Eh, Mister, won't
you try a hand?"

"What is your disposition concerning the arms for sporting
purposes?" asked the secretary, taking advantage of the pause.

Simoun thrust his head through the doorway.

"Don't you want to take Padre Camorra's place, Señor Sindbad?" inquired
Padre Irene. "You can bet diamonds instead of chips."

"I don't care if I do," replied Simoun, advancing while he brushed
the chalk from his hands. "What will you bet?"

"What should we bet?" returned Padre Sibyla. "The General can bet
what he likes, but we priests, clerics--"

"Bah!" interrupted Simoun ironically. "You and Padre Irene can pay
with deeds of charity, prayers, and virtues, eh?"

"You know that the virtues a person may possess," gravely argued
Padre Sibyla, "are not like the diamonds that may pass from hand to
hand, to be sold and resold. They are inherent in the being, they