Next instant he whirled on Rudolph in fury.--"Is this a game, or Idiot's Joy ?" "I'm playing my best," explained Rudolph, sulkily.
"Then your best is the worst I ever saw! Better learn, before sitting in!" Chantel laughed, without merriment; Rudolph flung down his cards, stalked to the window, and stood looking out, in lonely, impotent rage.
A long time passed, marked by alarming snores from the billiard-table.
The half-naked watchers played on, in ferocious silence.

The night wore along without relief.
Hours might have lapsed, when Dr.Chantel broke out as though the talk had but paused a moment.
"So it goes!" he sneered.

"Fools will always sit in, when they do not know.

They rush into the water, also, and play the hero!" Again his laughter was brief but malignant.

Heywood had left his cards, risen, and crossing the room, stood looking over Rudolph's shoulder into the snowy moonlight.