Poker was getting to be an unpopular game, and there were two reasons for it. One was the advent of more popular new types of gambling devices; the other reason was that Rafferty was so good it didn't pay to compete against him. He often had trouble getting up a game. People tended to slink away when they heard Rafferty wanted to play poker. He played it hard and he played it mean, and he didn't lose too often. That was why he had come to the Ganymede Casino. On the big pleasure-moon, anyone could find some sort of game going--and if he couldn't, the house would be glad to provide some competition. Rafferty didn't much like the idea of playing a house operator, but he was confident. He patted the ten g's and waited. After a couple of minutes an impeccably-dressed man in tails came over to him and smiled courteously. "Yes, sir?" "My name is Rafferty. I'm looking for a poker game in the house. There one around I can get into?" The impeccable man frowned slightly. "I don't think so, Mr.--ah--Rafferty. Wouldn't you care to try our Roto, or the planet-faro, or robot roulette? We--" "I want to play poker," Rafferty said. The chips were down now; he had to stick to his specialty. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Would you wait here, please?" Rafferty waited. He waited while the impeccable man cruised around the huge gameroom, murmuring gently to someone here, someone there. In all cases the response was the same: a shrug, a curious glance in Rafferty's direction, a quick and emphatic shake of the head. No one wanted to play. Usually Rafferty could count on some fool millionaire anxious to try to best the great Rafferty at five-card stud. Not today, though. There were no takers. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rafferty; I couldn't seem to promote a game. But the planet-faro--" "Poker," Rafferty said. "Would you object to playing a two-handed game with one of our employees?" the usher asked suddenly. "Naturally he'll be staked by the house, and I think you'll find him fit competition for you." Rafferty chewed at his lip. He needed the money--and if the house operator was staked by the casino, it might be possible to cart off quite a load. "Okay," he grunted. "Bring on your shill." * * * * * The usher led him to a small, highly-polished card table in the back, and signalled to a man waiting to one side. "Mr. Steel, this is Mr. Rafferty." "Hello," Rafferty said. "Pleased to meet you," said the other. His voice was a soft purr; his face, an expressionless mask. Rafferty smiled. He was quick to size up his opponents, and this time he could tell he was up against a good one. "Chips?" A house girl had come by. She was clad only in a strip of something filmy across her breasts and another round her middle, and she had a trayfull of chips. Rafferty casually handed her the hundred bills and accepted his stack of chips. She also gave him an unopened deck of cards. "Care to?" Rafferty asked, offering the cards to his opponent.