It would have been a bit awkward, just then, if she had
shown she already knew my history. To-morrow it mattered not to me if
it were known the Kingdom over; aye, and farther, too. But to-morrow
was the future; to-night was mine. I was in favor; a King across the
table; a beautiful woman beside me. What more could any man wish?
And, when Dehra whispered: "Do you know, Armand, you are very handsome
to-night?" I tossed all discretion overboard and made violent love to
her before them all. Nor heeded Courtney's warning looks, nor Lady
Helen's curious glances. It was Dehra, herself, who brought me up
sharply, after a space.
"I am afraid, Armand," said she, "if you flirt so strenuously with me
to-night, you will have no cards left for the balance of our game."
"Our game?" I echoed blankly, forgetting for the moment the compact of
the Ball.
She smiled. "You see, you play it better than I ever can. I don't
even know enough to forget it is a game."
I turned and looked her in the eyes. "Then, in all you have done
lately, you have been only playing the game?" I asked.
"Is that quite a fair question?" she answered.
"Yes--under the circumstances."
"But I thought you called it a game?"
"I did.
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