"Oh, no, I don't say that."

"Stupid phrase," I admitted. "But"--there was yet one point I would
put to him--"if you have extraordinary luck always--"

"There's no such thing as luck."

"No, strictly, I suppose, there isn't. But if in point of fact you
always do win, then--well, surely, perfect luck driveth out fear."

"Who ever said I always won?" he asked sharply.

I waved my hands and said, "Oh, you have the reputation, you
know, for extraordinary luck."

"That isn't the same thing as always winning. Besides, I
HAVEN'T extraordinary luck, never HAVE had. Good
heavens!" he exclaimed, "if I thought I had any more chance of winning
than of losing, I'd--I'd--"

"Never again set foot in that baccarat-room to-night," I soothingly
suggested.

"Oh, baccarat be blowed! I wasn't thinking of baccarat. I was
thinking of--oh, lots of things; baccarat included, yes."

"What things?" I ventured to ask.

"What things?" He pushed back his chair. "Look here," he said