Transcriber’s Notes
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.
Transcriber removed duplicate chapter headings.
The floral decoration on the Title page represents a similar but angled decoration in the original book.
About This Book
A collection of short stories that dramatize high-stakes poker games and their social consequences, set among urbane clubs and private rooms. Each tale stages tense contests of skill, bluff, and chance, tracing how runs of luck, temperament, and escalating wagers shape friendships, reputations, and ruin. Through vivid game scenes and ironic reversals, the pieces examine risk, honor, and the psychological grip of gambling while varying tone between suspense, humor, and moral unease.