The Washington critic., 1889-01-29
CHEVALIER LEGRAND.

when you play with Mr.. Blopper," said
Jones one evening at the club, when tho
chevalier and his partner had been carry.
ing all before them Mt whist.
"Cest vrai, assented tho chevalier in
his mixed iargon of French and English,
jinging the while in his trousers pocket
the numerous gold coins that had found
course of the evening. "Meestare Blop-
per plays ware fine game. 1t is no
credit to win with so good partnare."
The chevalier made q stately inclina-
tion as he spoke toward tho object of his
eulogium, who acknowledged II by
bushing and looking foolish. for the lat
ter of which processes nature had en-
dowed him with unusual facilities. He
was snub-noscd, bald.headed little
man, with that peculiar species of florid
complexion at which one would be dis
appointed were 1t not supplemented by
n pair of sandy whlskers; however, Mr..
Bloppcr's whiskers were satisfying. He
wore black tail coat little large for
him, and with his gray trousers, massive
gold watch chain, and seuare.toed boots,
looked like British tradesman retired
from business-as was the case by all ac-
counts
Not so the chevalier He was tall and
aristocratic looking; his hair, which was
griZzled, was worn cut-away over each
temples he had a coal black moustache
and twinkling black eyes, and in his un-
exceptiopable evening dress, with bit
of red ribbon In his button hole, he
was emphatically the distinguished for
eigner.
Not much was known about the
chevalier. He had been among us some
six months, or little more. He had
come in the first instance to drink the
waters for which our cities are famous.
For nearly month after his arrival he
stopped at the principal hotel, drank of
the waters religiously every day, and as
he was always well dressed and his
manners were polished and agreeable
he soon made number of acquaint-
ances.
Having been elected to the club, and
having received few invitations, he
was soon discovered to be an acquisition
to the society of the place. He was a
good dancer and quite a ladies' man; he
talked amusingly, the more so for his
broken English; he was fair billiard
player, though he was an unlucky one,
and having to pay for the game.
But he was capital whist player, and
whist is our chief amusement. In ouI
city is settled large number of army
men, who hunt in the winter. play ten
mis- in the summer and play whist all the
year around. We play for high stakes
too; for where the players are pretty
evenly matched and are continually
playing together, there Is not much in !
at the end of the year, and the high
stakes stimulate the play and preven
men from getting careless.
Jones and had q conversation on the
subject as we walked home from til,
club this very evening. l had beer
losing, for had been one of chevalier'
opponents, and partly perhaps to consol,
myself, hazarded the remark that whis
never made EGO difference to me at tn,
years end, one way or tho other. Jone
shook his head.
''I can tell you one man, Perkins,
said he, ito whom it makes more thar
.e20 difference at the years end-or a
the weeks end, for that matter"
"Whom do you mean?" said l.
Jones stopped, and struck his stick OF
the ground TO give his words additiona
emphasis. :.
IcThlUS, Hc buiu, NC DCCh WubCh
ing that old chevaler very closely 70
some time, and in the last fortnigh
alone he has won upwards of ESQ from
our members"
"Never," said I, staggered.
''It's fact. He never gets up loser
And I've noticed another thing. HI
always wins-always-when Blopper l
his partner. What do you make of it p
II never liked Blopper," said I. "H
was very near being piled when tn
chevalier put him up for the club"
"Did the chevalier put him up?'
asked Jones, quietly. II was away q
the time"
Certainly. Blopper came about
week after the chevalier was elected; an,
the chevalier, who had met him q
Scarborough, or somewhere. some year
ago"
"Humbug!" said Jones. He is ofte
rather rude, is Jones; one of thos
shrewd, long-headed fellows that ar
never taken in, and are very compromis
ing in expressing their opinions. HI
and I are always at loggerheads. He al
ways thinks the worst of people and
always think the best; but am boun,
to confess that he is generally right Il
the sequel.
Perkins" he resumed thoughtfully
81 mistrust that pair. Wen keep on
eagle eyes on them, old boy. We'l
watch them and see II they are up t
any tricks together. You are man @
the world, you are, and you know thin
or two. Watch their game"
"The chevalier hates people to lool
on" said innocently.
81 dare say he does" said Jones, YER
dryly, and here, as we were at my rooms
we said good night and parted.
AS was smoking my final pipe owe
the fire before turning in, found m
thoughts very full of Jones suspicious.
was inclined to laugh at them, but ha
30 often found Jones, who was lawye
and sharp one, to be perfectly right i
his opinions, that / began to think ou
the matter thoroughly. II occurred I
me to calculate my own losses of late
and to examine how often they ha
taken place when / was opposed to tn
suspected pair.
Twas astonished at the result. Takin
my play and the cards had held int
consideration, ] was amazed to find no,
poor show / had made against MI
Bopper and his foreign ally, / made
strong resolution that / would carry ou
Jones suggestion. My opportunitie
were sure to be ample, for am an idl
mana retired officer of Royal Eng
neers-and / spend half my time at tn
club, the most of that in the card room
commenced operations the next day
] found out very little. But one thing
noticed. / found that the chevalier'
play when he had Blopper for his part
ner was vastly superior to his play whe