Scene 16

Private Gaming Room, Le Casino de Monte-Carlo

The game had gone long into the evening and it was nearly midnight. As we played, I often felt Maggie’s leg rubbing against mine. I was finding it more than a little distracting.

I threw in my cards to fold. After the flop I hadn’t even managed to form a pair and I knew I wouldn’t win the hand. Showing on the flop were the four of hearts, the six of diamonds, and the seven of hearts.

Big John looked at his hole cards and thought for a while. He leaned back and puffed on his cigar. “All in!” he declared.

John had the smallest pile of chips on the table. If he lost, he would be out of the game.

The Countess pushed her cards in to fold. Dr. Newface had folded before the flop, so that left only Maggie.

She didn’t bother to look at her hole cards. “I’m in,” she said. She held more chips than John, so she would remain in the game if she lost the hand.

Since Big John had bet all of his chips, no more bets would be allowed and the two remaining players were committed to the cards they already held and whatever was turned over for the community cards.

Big John revealed his cards for the showdown. He held a pair of sevens, clubs and spades, so he currently had three sevens with the community cards.

Maggie flipped over her cards, a three and five of hearts. So she held a straight, currently holding the winning hand.

Big John watched intently as the turn was dealt. The seven of diamonds appeared.

John leaned back in his chair and puffed heartily on his cigar. He now had four of a kind, the winning hand. Only one card would let Maggie win the hand.

She and John both watched closely as the river was dealt. John’s cigar nearly fell from his mouth as he saw what the card was.

The dealer had dealt the six of hearts, the one card that would let Maggie hold the winning hand. With that card, Maggie now held a straight flush and beat John’s four of a kind.

“Mr. Houston holds four sevens,” Jacques announced. “Ms. Sweetface holds a straight flush. Ms. Sweetface wins the hand and Mr. Houston is out of the game. It is now late, so we shall call the game for the night, with play resuming tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. Mr. Houston, you are welcome to return tomorrow to watch the conclusion of the game.”

Maggie went around the table to John. She embraced him in a hug and kissed his cheek.

“Well now,” John said with a laugh, “If this is what I get when I lose, I reckon I ought to lose a little more.”

I said goodnight to all the players. “I’ll see you in a bit,” Maggie whispered to me just before she left the room.

I gathered up my things and handed them to Ms. Starling, telling her I would return to my room later.

I pulled the slip of paper from my pocket and looked at the room number written on it. I put it back in my pocket and left the room.