Evening star., 1924-06-05
CHAPTER XxXVIII.
The Gods OF Chance.

20
i Ahmed remained very calm. FoIice
could insult him no further, and as he
had already made up his mind to kill
,Feiice he had reached the limit Of
his vengeance.
"You are so quick to perceive
!cowardice in others, my friend, that
begin to suspect you of knowing
much of it's symptoms from actual ex-
perience," he said gently. Before
putting the proposition before you
would emphasize this: All my life 1
have been educated in the use of
arms. l mention it SO that you will
realize that / am not attempting to
6vade the use of the accepted wcap-
pnS of dueling."
Felice looked -astonished.
You mean you will not fight with
either sword or pistol?" he exclaimed.
Exactly"
Felice laughed Impossible, You
will want to use fists next, like the
English"
: Not al all But consider If man
Is killed by SNord-tl1rust or pistol
shot, there is an immediate outcry
londs. We need nobody except our
selves He leaned forward. IF a
man cares to poison himself in a quiet
place, then his relatives are sad. there
is some mystery about IL all, but no
furious scandal"
What do YOU mean Feltce was
plainly hewildered
: My suggestion bluntly. is this.
That one morning, at, say. o'clock,
You and l meet in a. selected glade in
the RoiS There is a bottle OF cham
-pagne and a little bottle of poison.
believe veronel- is quite plea SAINT and
easy TO obtain. We play. The loser
drinks cup of champagne. the drink
of the gods. and in the cup is suffi-
cicnt vcronal to kill him"
: Felice leaned back. Il was fam
tastic to the point of absurdity, the
Haddest duel he had ever heard Of
play what?" he demanded.
: II had had cards in my mind. but
the gamble might be unfair; that, at
whatever game We chose. one OF us
might be the superior of the other.
Therefore, L suggest dice. Three dice
with the one spots counting as aces,
might be bought, set in a sealed
package and opened only in the glade.
The gods of chance could decide the
rest"
: Felice wanted to deride the whole
euggestion, but found himself asking
questions as to details
How would we get thereT
I'm our own cars. They would be
Eefc. on the hlSh road, close 10 the
glade. The survivor would drive
back in his"
= Felice got to his feet.
Are you determined not to make
use of the usual weapons"
absolutely. Mine is the choice and
I have told you how l have chosen"
Felice went to the window and
stared out at the sunlit street 1t was
all fantastic. And yet-Ahmed had
choice of weapons. He turned about
IF / accept the proposition, 1 in
sist on the presence of q third party"
Whom would you suggest?"
Felice reflected. There is a man
Known to both OF us, sufficiently
friendly He is shrewd. / refer to
Monsieur Ie Comte Mordac.''
Il agree" said Ahmed quitely. "And
30 we meet on those termsT'
Yes"
= 'Well-we will see Mordac. After
wards it is merely question of
time"
: 1t was left at that They saw Nor
dac later, and he accompanied them
to the Bois, where they selected an
Enclosed glade which would certain
" be free from intrusion.
The day was fixed, and the time
5 o'clock.
Mordac reported to LoIette
AT last" she said quietly. You
Know, mon cher, the cards cannot run
against one always. Would you lie
for me in a little thing?"
"In what?" asked Mordac.
: "The time of this meeting is s