98 PLAY. 



representative of my house myself, to vindicate 

 its honour, and I will ! See, Monsieur, I am not 

 unable." 



'And she produced a pistol, rising at the same 

 moment to her feet. This revelation of her character 

 so surprised me that I scarcely knew what to say. 

 So we returned silently to Acapulco, she doubtlessly 

 communing with her warring feelings. 



' On reaching the landing-place, we entered a re- 

 staurant close to the quarantine office, where many of 

 the passengers were lounging around. Madame called 

 for a glass of wine and water, while I joined in 

 conversation with an intelligent, gentlemanly person 

 I had frequently spoken to during the passage. 

 Moving towards the rear of the building we passed 

 a door partially open, through which numbers were 

 both going and coming. My companion inquired, 

 "Have you been in there? the play has been very- 

 heavy." Answering in the negative, I received the 

 information that Boyle and the husband of Madame 

 had been closeted there since their arrival, that nu- 

 merous heavy bets had been made on the issue, and 

 that each of the gamblers was determined to ruin 

 the other. 



'On gaining entrance we found the room crowded. 

 In the centre sat the players, and between them a 

 card-table. Greenbacks to a large amount were piled 

 beside each, and both appeared entirely absorbed in 

 their occupation. So far money had changed hands, 

 but for a few moments, to revert again to its original 



