there was a stirring of my pulse as I sat down.

Is it possible for a mind to directly influence the movements of
a little ivory ball? I do not say yes, but will you say no? I
watched the ball with the eye of an eagle, but without straining;
I played with the precision of a man with an unerring system,
though my selections were really made quite at random; and I
handled my bets with the sureness and swift dexterity with which
a chess-master places his pawn or piece in position to demoralize
his opponent.

This told on the nerves of the croupier. Twice I corrected a
miscalculation of his, and before I had played an hour his hand
was trembling with agitation.

And I won.

The details would be tiresome, but I won; and when, after six
hours of play without an instant's rest, I rose exhausted from my
chair and handed my brother the amount he had lost--I pocketed a
few thousands for myself in addition. There were some who tried
to detain me with congratulations and expressions of admiration,
but I shook them off and led Harry outside to my car.

The chauffeur, poor devil, was completely stiff from the long
wait, and I ordered him into the tonneau and took the wheel
myself.

Partly was this due to pity for the driver, partly to a desire to
leave Harry to his own thoughts, which I knew must be somewhat