The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-24

his nature-wth a hate that nothing
but death could allay.
He marvellcd at his own hatred for
De NantOs Why was it? He felt sure
that he, Raour de st. Ibars. duke and
peer of France, did not love his own
wife; that would be ridiculous; only
peasants and shopkeepers were so il
bred. Why, then, should he he so
moved when an insect like this marquis
boasted his love for her?
He tried to think the situation out
dispassionately, and the more he
thought. the more he felt inclined to
accept the proposal. If he won-and
luck could not go against him forever
he could pick a quarrel with De Nantos
on some Indifferent matter and send
him out of the world. SO long as he
was deeply in debt to the marquis he
could not expect his challenge to be ac-
cepted. At that moment he felt he
would willingly risk his life to be re-
venged, and if luck went against him,
life without vengeance would not be a
difficult thing to give up.
II may agree to your proposal, mar
qus," he said, "If I understand you
rightly it is this: The stake on your
side is all you have won from me dur
ing the last month; on my side, the
promise to kill myself in twelve hours
Is that so?'
Yes" answered the Marquis de
Nantos.
But" went on the duke, 81, on my
side. have a condition to make. l am
weary of these cards. Let us have the
dice and let one throw decide it."
The marquis threw himself back in
his chair and stared intently at st.
Ibars as If thinking deeply. He thrust
one hand into the righthand pocket of
his long tapped waistcOast. 81 should
prefer the cards" he began-then the
| left hand went into the other pocket
and a slow smile played on is lips,
but / shall be delighted to meet your
wishes. my dear duke"
st. Ibars brought a box and two dice
| and placed them on the table before De
| Nantos, who carelessly played with
| them for a moment. Then, throwing
them into the box, he handed it to the
| duke, saying:
"Will you throw lirst?"
"As you like" was the answer He
| gave the box a careless shake and
| threw.
Eleven" he said, and handed the
! dice box across the table.
De Nantos slowly raised hmselft
| from his lounging attitude. Putting
| his right hand over the box, he shook
! it vigorously talking all the while.
Eleven is Il good throw" he said,
Il wonder if l can, beat it. Old De
Grammont always said it was lucky to
| throw with the left hand"
| lie shifted the box rapidly to his left
! hand, ratified it again, and threw,
| Double sixes!" he cried, holding his
hand curved over the dice with the air
of a man who would sweep them into
the box as soon as the other player
| had seen them. Il win. Double
| siNes!'
St. Ibars had believed himself pre-
| pared to meet his fate calmly; he felt
| unconcerned as he saw the dice. He
| even noticed that one Of them had a
corner Clipped off, and idly wondered
that he had not remarked IT before. But
| glancing up, he saw the moclSing leer
on the others face and for one brief
moment his self-command vanished.
"You devil!" he cried, starting up
and the sudden movement overturned
the tables with a crash.
De Nantos started back in alarm
and his hand sought his sword hilt
But the duke made no further move