Fleetwood scrutinized the cast of his features and the touch of his fingers on the crispy paper.

‘Come to another of these “green fields,"’ he returned briefly.  ’The game here is child’s play.’

Urging Virgin Luck not to quit his initiatory table, the captain reluctantly went at their heels.  Shortly before the tables were clad in mantles for the night, he reported to Livia one of the great cases of Virgin Luck; described it, from the silver piece to the big heap of notes, and drew on his envy of the fellow to sketch the indomitable coolness shown in following or in quitting a run.  ’That fellow it is, Fleetwood’s tag-rag; holds his head like a street-fiddler; Woodler or some name.  But there’s nothing to be done if we don’t cultivate him.  He must have pocketed a good three thousand and more.  They had a quarrel about calculations of chances, and Fleet ran the V up his forehead at a piece of impudence.  Fellow says some high-flying stuff; Fleet brightens like a Sunday chimney-sweep.  If I believed in Black Arts, upon my word!’

‘Russett is not usually managed with ease,’ the lady said.

Her placid observation was directed on the pair then descending the steps.

‘Be careful how you address, this gentleman,’ she counselled Abrane.  ‘The name is not Woodier, I know.  It must be the right name or none.’

Livia’s fairest smile received them.  She heard the captain accosting the child of luck as Mr. Woodier, and she made a rustle in rising to take Fleetwood’s arm.

‘We haven’t dined, we have to sup,’ said he.

’You are released at the end of the lamps.  You redeem your ring, Russett, and I will restore it.  I have to tell you, Henrietta is here to-morrow.’

‘She might be in a better place.’

’The place where she is to be seen is not generally undervalued by men.  It is not her fault that she is absent.  The admiral was persuaded to go and attend those cavalry manoeuvres with the Grand Duke, to whom he had been civil when in command of the Mediterranean squadron.  You know, the admiral believes he has military—­I mean soldierly-genius; and the delusion may have given him wholesome exercise and helped him to forget his gout.  So far, Henrietta will have been satisfied.  She cannot have found much amusement among dusty troopers or at that court at Carlsruhe.  Our French milliner there has helped in retarding her quite against her will.  She has had to choose a balldress for the raw mountain-girl they have with them, and get her fitted, and it’s a task!  Why take her to the ball?  But the admiral’s infatuated with this girl, and won’t hear of her exclusion—­because, he says, she understands a field of battle; and the Ducal party have taken to her.  Ah, Russett, you should not have flown!  No harm, only Henrietta does require a trifle of management.  She writes, that she is sure of you for the night at the Schloss.’