ECARTE
Bartolomeo was thrown into a subterranean dungeon of the citadel, and
now that Aslitta was lost he accepted his fate calmly. He could not be
of any further service to the fatherland.
As he was sitting meditatively in his cell, the door opened and a
corporal entered.
"What do you wish?" asked the major politely. "What time is it?"
"Three o'clock in the morning," replied the corporal, a handsome young
fellow with blue eyes and blond hair.
"Only three o'clock. Then I have three long hours still to live. Can't I
be shot at once?"
"No, no chance whatever."
"How awkward. What shall I do with myself? It's so monotonous here!"
"Oh, you can remedy that," said the corporal, laughing.
"How so? What do you mean?" asked Bartolomeo.
"Well, you see, I know that you are a good card-player. To-morrow I must
shoot you, and before doing so I came here to ask you to do me a favor.
Will you please teach me _ecarte_?"
"With pleasure," replied the major.
"Good; then let us begin," said the soldier, gleefully, and pulling a
pack of cards out of his pocket, he threw them on a chair and went away,
returning shortly afterward with a drum.
The major seated himself on a chair, the corporal on the bed, and the
drum served as a table.
The corporal was a good scholar and soon learned the elements of the
game. Bartolomeo was delighted. He dealt, picked up, trumped, and forgot
entirely that in a few hours he would be shot.
When the clock struck four, the young man had won twice, and he proudly
exclaimed:
"If my luck continues, I will be ahead of you soon. Couldn't we play for
money?"
"No, that would be unfair," replied the major, "I am so superior to
you."
"Oh, that could be tested by a trial. But first I will get some rum. I
am thirsty, and you are so also, no doubt."
"Thanks, I will take some too," replied Bartolomeo.
The corporal disappeared. As soon as the footsteps died away, the major
took the cards and stacked them. When the soldier returned with the rum,
the major had already taken his place.
"Ah, that tastes good," he said, after he had taken a deep draught.
The corporal drank also and then they sat down again. This time the game
was for money, the stakes being a few pennies. After a while, the
soldier in the meantime having won repeatedly, the stakes were
increased. The major continued to lose, and soon the soldier had won
all of Bartolomeo's cash. While the play was going on they drank often,
and when Bartolomeo refused to play any more because his money was all
gone, the corporal said he would lend him a few lire.
"Ah, if I lose these too," remarked the major, "the time will have gone
by for a revenge. It is already past five o'clock."
"Bah--let us play anyhow!" exclaimed the corporal, exhilarated by the
money he had won and the liquor he had swallowed.
A slight smile crossed the major's lips. The play began again, but this
time the prisoner won. It did not take long before the major had not
only won back all his money, but that of the corporal's too, and just as
the latter had asked him for a loan a knock was heard at the door.
"Confound it!" exclaimed the corporal, "who is disturbing us now?"
In answer to a harsh "Come in," the door opened and a soldier appeared.
He announced that it was time to go to the barracks in the Piazza
Poliziotti.
"It is all right; I shall be there directly," answered the corporal.
The soldier departed, and the corporal now turned to Bartolomeo, who had
arisen from his chair.
"One more game," begged the Austrian.
"Not for the world. I must collect my thoughts now, and close my account
with God," replied the major.
"But you won my money and ought to give me a revenge."
"Gladly, if I only had time to do so."
The corporal, who was very tight, swore roundly.
The major gazed at him for a moment, and then in a hesitating way said:
"I know a way out of the difficulty."
"What is it?" asked the corporal, breathlessly.
"Your order is to shoot me, and then to go to the barracks; postpone the
execution half an hour--take me with you to the Poliziotti barracks, and
I will give you your revenge there," proposed Bartolomeo.
"Certainly," cried the corporal, gleefully.
He strode in advance of Bartolomeo, and ordered his men to take the
major along to the barracks.
The soldiers looked at one another in astonishment, but none dared to
say a word, and at a quick step they were on their way to the barracks.
"Time won--everything won," muttered the major. "I have not played cards
a lifetime for nothing."