She said if she could only once succeed in winning a rouble from Karr she would have a ring welded to it and wear it suspended from her neck.  It is very likely that the mistakes of his opponents aided General Karr’s continual success.  The two noble ladies were too much occupied with Orloff’s fine eyes to be able to fix their attention wholly upon the game, whilst Orloff was so lucky in love that it would have been the greatest injustice on earth if he had been equally successful at play.  Once, whilst shuffling the cards, some one casually remarked that it was a scandalous shame that an escaped Cossack like Pugasceff should be in a position to conquer a fourth of Russia in Europe, to disgrace the Russian troops time after time, to condemn the finest Russian officers to a degrading death, and now even to bombard Orenburg like a real potentate.

“I know the dandy, I know him very well,” said Karr.  “During the life of His Majesty I used to play cards with him at Oranienbaum.  He is a stupid youngster.  Whenever I called carreau, he used to give coeur.”

“It appears that he plays even worse now,” said the Czarina; “now he throws pique after coeur!”

It was the fashion at this time at the Russian Court to throw in every now and then a French word, and coeur in French means heart, and piquer means to sting and prick.

“Yes, because our commanders have been inactive.  Were I only there!”

“Won’t you have the kindness to go there?” asked Orloff mockingly.

“If Her Majesty commands me, I am ready.”

“Ah! this tarok-party would suffer a too great loss in you,” said Katharine, jokingly.

“Well, your Majesty might have hunting-parties at Peterhof,” he said, consolingly, to the Czarina.

This was a pleasant suggestion to Katharine, for at Peterhof she had spent her brightest days, and there she had made the acquaintance of Orloff.  With a smile full of grace, she nodded to General Karr.

“I don’t mind, then; but in two weeks you must be back.”

“Ah! what is two weeks?” returned Karr; “if your Majesty commands it, I will seat myself this very hour upon a sledge, and in three days and nights I shall be in Bugulminszka.  On the fourth day I shall arrange my cards, and on the fifth I shall send word to this dandy that I am the challenger.  On the sixth day I shall give ‘Volat’ to the rascal, and the seventh and eighth days I shall have him as Pagato ultimo, bound in chains, and bring him to your Majesty’s feet!” [Footnote:  “Volat” is an expression used in tarok to denote that no tricks have been made by an opponent.  This is another term in the game, when the player announces beforehand that he will make the last trick with the Ace of Trumps.]