I had a genius, in fact, for the game; and now that I was
placed in that station of life where I could cultivate my talents,
I gave them full play, and improved amazingly. I do say that I think
myself as good a hand as any chap in England.
The Count and his Excellency Baron von Punter were, I can tell you,
astonished by the smartness of my play: the first two or three rubbers
Punter beat me, but when I came to know his game, I used to knock him
all to sticks; or, at least, win six games to his four: and such was the
betting upon me; his Excellency losing large sums to the Count, who knew
what play was, and used to back me. I did not play except for shillings,
so my skill was of no great service to me.
One day I entered the billiard-room where these three gentlemen were
high in words. "The thing shall not be done," I heard Captain Tagrag
say: "I won't stand it."
"Vat, begause you would have de bird all to yourzelf, hey?" said the
Baron.
"You sall not have a single fezare of him, begar," said the Count: "ve
vill blow you, M. de Taguerague; parole d'honneur, ve vill."
"What's all this, gents," says I, stepping in, "about birds and
feathers?"
"Oh," says Tagrag, "we were talking about--about--pigeon-shooting; the
Count here says he will blow a bird all to pieces at twenty yards, and I
said I wouldn't stand it, because it was regular murder.
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