player turned up a black ace - it was the ace of clubs. The next
received a diamond, the next a heart, and so on; but the ace of
spades was still undelivered. At last, Geraldine, who sat upon the
Prince's left, turned his card; it was an ace, but the ace of
hearts.

When Prince Florizel saw his fate upon the table in front of him,
his heart stood still. He was a brave man, but the sweat poured
off his face. There were exactly fifty chances out of a hundred
that he was doomed. He reversed the card; it was the ace of
spades. A loud roaring filled his brain, and the table swam before
his eyes. He heard the player on his right break into a fit of
laughter that sounded between mirth and disappointment; he saw the
company rapidly dispersing, but his mind was full of other
thoughts. He recognised how foolish, how criminal, had been his
conduct. In perfect health, in the prime of his years, the heir to
a throne, he had gambled away his future and that of a brave and
loyal country. "God," he cried, "God forgive me!" And with that,
the confusion of his senses passed away, and he regained his self-
possession in a moment.

To his surprise Geraldine had disappeared. There was no one in the
card-room but his destined butcher consulting with the President,
and the young man of the cream tarts, who slipped up to the Prince,
and whispered in his ear:-

"I would give a million, if I had it, for your luck."

His Highness could not help reflecting, as the young man departed,
that he would have sold his opportunity for a much more moderate