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In the card-room were several men of the Prince's who had known Carigny in his Paris days, while there was scarcely a man present who had not heard some version of the Carigny story. To certain of them the Prince spoke of the visit he was expecting.
"It may be a long time," he said. "I can see that it may be years. But, since you are so good, some day we will play once more. It is agreed?" "Certainly; it is agreed," said the Prince. Carigny smiled once more. He had a queer, ironic little smile that seemed to mock its own mirth.
"That constitutes in itself an engagement which Carigny will not fail to keep. He will come this afternoon." Their meal achieved itself perfectly, like a ritual There arrived the time when the Prince set down his tiny coffee-cup and leaned back detachedly, while the waiter with the bill went through his celebrated impersonation of a man receiving a favor.
He, in converse with a veteran who had known Carigny, took the card and held it in his fingers without looking at it while he finished what he was saying. All eyes were on him; it was a neat piece of social bravado. He glanced at the card at last. "Announce Monsieur Carigny," he said to the servant, and went on talking. Dupontel felt like cheering him. The talk resumed, in a changed key.
Another card was played, and the Prince won again, He laid his last card face down on the table. "Carigny," he said. "Have you played?" asked the other. "No," said the Prince. "Listen! I will make you a proposal. I do not know what your last card is; you do not know mine. It rests on that card, our four hundred thousand francs. I may win, in spite of everything.
When he had shouldered his way back to it, the play had already begun. It seemed to him almost indecent that such an affair should rest on a single hand of cards; it was making free with matters of importance. As he gained a sight of the table again, Carigny scored his second trick and the third card fell. The Prince trumped it. The young man smiled and whispered.
The Prince's somber eyes passed unseeing over these articles of human furniture. "If only I don't get a sign," he said; "like going out without my Mexican coin, you know that would be a sign. If only I can avoid that and a couple of other things I'll be ready enough for Monsieur Carigny when he comes." "Tiens!" said Dupontel. "You and your signs, c'est epatant!"
"It is Carigny?" inquired the Prince, hesitating. The stranger smiled. "Yes," he answered. "Monpavon, is it not?" Even his French had changed, become the French of a foreigner. "You have been a long time coming for your revenge," said the Prince. "But you are welcome always, Carigny." He held out his hand, and again the young man touched the elder.
"Very well," said Carigny, at last. "I am willing, Monpavon. Two hundred thousand, eh?" "Two hundred thousand," corroborated the Prince. He reached for the pack. Before anyone could protest, he had slipped his card into it and mingled it with the others beyond identification. "We are quits, then," he was saying to Carigny, and once more the ancient adversaries shook hands.
The other smiled a little and shook his head. "You are very good," he had answered; "but at present that is impossible. Some day, perhaps." He paused. He had risen from his chair, and, though the evening was yet young, he had the look of a man wearied utterly. All the room was watching him; it was known that he had lost all. "Whenever you like," the Prince had replied. Carigny nodded slowly.
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