I own that, in a very varied and somewhat extensive experience of men in many countries, I never met with one who so completely fulfilled all the requisites of temper, manner, face, courage, and self-reliance, which make of a human being the most unabashable and unemotional creature that walks the earth.
I tell the story as nearly as I can as he related it to me. “I used to play a good deal with Rechberg,” said he, “and took pleasure in worrying him, for he was a great purist in his play, and was outraged with anything that could not be sustained by an authority. In fact, each game was followed by a discussion of full half an hour, to the intense mortification of the other players, though very amusing to me, and offering me large opportunity to irritate and plague the Austrian.
“One evening, after a number of these discussions, in which Rechberg had displayed an even unusual warmth and irritability, I found myself opposed to him in a game, the interest of which had drawn around us a large assembly of spectators--what the French designate as _la galerie_. Towards the conclusion of the game it was my turn to lead, and I played a card which so astounded the Austrian Minister, that he laid down his cards upon the table and stared fixedly at me.
“‘In all my experience of Whist,’ said he, deliberately, ‘I never saw the equal of that.’
“‘Of the card you have just played,’ rejoined he. ‘It is not merely that such play violates every principle of the game, but it actually stultifies all your own combinations.’
“‘I think differently, Count,’ said I. ‘I maintain that it is good play, and I abide by it.’
“‘Thus: We shall leave the question to the _galerie_. You shall allege what you deem to be the reasons for your play, and they shall decide if they accept them as valid.’
“‘Ten napoleons--twenty, fifty, five hundred if you like!’ cried he, warmly.
“‘I shall say ten. You don’t like losing, and I don’t want to punish you too heavily.’
“‘There is the jury, sir,’ said he, haughtily; ‘make your case.’
“‘The wager is this,’ said I, ‘that, to win, I shall satisfy these gentlemen that for the card I played I had a sufficient and good reason.’
“‘My reason was this, then--I looked into your hand!’