"Why should I?" said Peter. "I've got you beat now. Do you
raise me or call?" The prince called and laid down a full
house. Peter showed four tens.

"I will deal you one hand, double or quits," said the prince.

Over the end of his cigar Peter squinted at the great heap of
mother-of-pearl counters and gold-pieces and bank-notes.

"You will pay me double what is on the table," he said, "or
you quit owing me nothing."

The prince nodded.

"Go ahead," said Peter.

The prince dealt them each a hand and discarded two cards.
Peter held a seven, a pair of kings, and a pair of fours.
Hoping to draw another king, which might give him a three
higher than the three held by Abdul, he threw away the seven
and the lower pair. He caught another king. The prince showed
three queens and shrugged his shoulders.

Peter, leaning toward him, spoke out of the corner of his
mouth.

"I'll make you a sporting proposition," he murmured. "You owe
me a hundred and fifty thousand francs. "I'll stake that
against what only two men in the empire can give me."