For a moment in the heavy silence Jim Kendric sat appalled by what he had done. In the grip of the game he had been swayed by emotion, not tarrying for cold logic during an episode when time raced. He had hoped to win. Thus, since he had discovered that Rios, too, was enamored of his beautiful cousin, he would tease an old enemy, sober Bruce, jolt Barlow--and vex Betty. He had not thought of himself nor of Zoraida. No one spoke. The first sound was a long shuddering breath from young Bruce; his face was a sick white save for a spot of red in each cheek; his eyes looked like those of a man with a high fever. Kendric sat staring in perplexity at the gold he had won, automatically gathering it toward him. Zoraida stood motionless, displaying herself, awaiting his eyes. And abruptly, when he lifted his head, his eyes went not to her but to Betty. The girl appeared fascinated and horrified. Jim's eyes pleaded with her. Betty began to twist her hands in an agony of bewildered emotions. Zoraida, waiting for Jim's face to be lifted to her and not one accustomed to waiting on a man, frowned. But swiftly and before anyone but the always watchful Rios saw, she broke the silence with her little cooing laughter. She put out her two white arms toward the men at the table, saying softly: "Will you help me down, Señor Jim?" Before Kendric could answer Bruce was on his feet. The blood charged to his face so that the red spots were merged in the crimson flood. The boy looked ready for murder. "Stop this, Zoraida!" he said excitedly. "Stop it! You are mad. Have you forgotten?--Good God!" "Betty--" said Kendric, hardly knowing what he would say. He wanted her to understand-- "Don't speak to me!" Betty flung the words at him passionately. "You are an unthinkable beast!" Bruce heard nothing that was said, saw nothing but Zoraida. He came two steps toward her and then stopped, staring at her. "Zoraida," he commanded, as one who speaks with love's authority, "you don't realize what you are doing. It is that cursed wine you have drunk or there is just desperation in the air and it has got into you. This hideous jest has gone far enough--too far. Tell them, tell Kendric, that it was all a jest. Nothing more." "Had you won," said Zoraida sweetly, "what then, Señor Bruce? Would you have been jesting?" Bruce's lips moved but no words came. Suddenly he whirled from her upon Kendric, his face distorted with rage. "Damn you!" he burst out.