instant he uttered the word KILL, a term of the game; the word
was misinterpreted by the hearers, and they went forthwith and
massacred the ambassadors. Livy suggests that this was an excuse
alleged AFTER the commission of the deed; but gamesters are
subject to such absence of mind that there is really nothing
incredible or astonishing in the act. 'Sire,' exclaimed a
messenger to the Caliph Alamin, 'it is no longer time for play--
Babylon is besieged!' 'Silence!' said the caliph, 'don't you see
I am on the point of giving checkmate?' The same story is told
of a Duke of Normandy.

Wars have arisen from very trivial causes--among the rest
gambling. Henry, the son of William the Conqueror, was playing
at chess with Louis, the son of Philip, King of France. The
latter, perceiving that he was losing the game got into a
passion, and calling Henry the son of a bastard, flung the chess-
board into his face. Henry took the chess-board and struck Louis
with it so violently that he drew blood, and would have killed
him if his brother, who happened to come in, had not prevented
him. The two brothers took to flight, but a great and lasting
war was the consequence of the gambling fracas.

A gaming quarrel was the cause of the slap in the face given by
the Duc Rene to Louis XII., then only Duc d'Orleans. This slap
was the origin of a ligue which was termed 'the mad war.' The
resentment of the outraged prince was not appeased until he
mounted the throne, when he uttered these memorable words:--'A
King of France does not avenge insults offered to a Duke of
Orleans.'