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Gru," he said

"So I am, but you are alelcome"

"You have overslept?"

"No; on the contrary"

"Poker?"

"After a fashion," said Carone from his voice "I was beaten by three of a kind"

"So?"

"But I found a good hand later"

"Kings"

"Four?"

"Oh, no; only one I haven't drawn yet"

"You are not telling ht?"

"I would not miss it for five thousand crowns," sadly

"You look as if you were going to a funeral instead of the greatest event of the year in Dreiberg"

"I didn't sleep well either"

"Out?"

"No; one does not have to go out in order not to sleep"