Beau Wilson, as he pushed back his chair during this little lull in the
play of the evening.

"And tell me why, Beau?"

"Because of us all who have met here at the Green Lion these last
months, not one hath ever had so steady a run of luck. Sure some fairy
hath befriended thee. _Sept et le va, sept et le va_--I'll hear it in my
ears to-night, even as Castleton sees the lap-dog. Man, you play as
though you read the pack quite through."

"Ah, then, you admit that there is some such thing as a talisman. I'll
not deny that I have had one these last three evenings, but I feared to
tell ye all, lest I might be waylaid and robbed of my good-luck charm."

"Tell us, tell us, man, what it is!" cried Castleton. "_Sept et le va_
has not been made in this room before for many a month, yet here thou
comest with the run of _sept et le va_ thrice in as many hours."

"Well, then," continued Pembroke, still smiling, "I'll make a small
confession. Here is my charm. Salute it!"

He cast on the table the Indian moccasin which had been shown the same
party at the Green Lion a few evenings before. Eager hands reached for
it.

"Treachery!" cried Castleton. "I bid Du Mesne four pounds for the shoe
myself."

"Oh ho!" said Pembroke, "so you too were after it. Well, the long purse