There were twelve tables numbered A, B, C, up to--well, twelve of them, and I started at E, because my name is Ernest. Our host arranged us and, of course, he may have had quite another scheme in his mind. If so, it was an extraordinary coincidence that my partner's name was Ethel. She herself swore it was Millicent, but I doubt if one can trust a woman in these matters. She looked just like an Ethel. I had never seen her before, I shall never see her again, but she will always be Ethel to me. There is only one rule at progressive bridge, and that is, if you lose you go to the next table, and if you win you stay where you are. In any case you get a fresh partner each time. That being so, it seemed hardly worth while to ask Ethel what she discarded from. As it happened, though, she began it. "I discard from strength," she said. "So do I," I agreed gladly. We already had a lot in common. "Great strength returns the penny," I added. "What's that?" "Moderate strength rings the bell. It's a sort of formula I say to myself, and brings luck. May I play to hearts?" Ethel discarded a small heart on the first round of clubs, and a small club on the first round of hearts. After which, systematically and together, we discarded from great weakness. What with the revoke and other things they scored hundreds and thousands that game. "You know, where providence goes wrong," I said, "is in over-estimating our skill. Providence thinks too highly of us. It thinks that if it gives us a knave and two tens between us we can get a grand slam." "Yes; and I think--I think, perhaps, that just the least little bit it underrates Dorothy's abilities." "Indeed?" I said. Dorothy was the person who had just taken two hundred and ninety-eight off us. "Yes. You see Dorothy has played before, and I don't think providence knew." "It rather looks like that." "Mind," said Ethel graciously, "I don't blame providence for not knowing." Dorothy laughed, and cut for me. I dealt myself three aces, and went no trumps. To my surprise Dorothy's partner doubled, and led the ace of hearts. "One moment," I said, and I took it up, and looked at the back of it. Then I looked at the back of my own ace of hearts. Then I looked at the front of it again, and swore very softly, and played it. "I'm very sorry," I apologised at the end of the game. "I had a wolf in sheep's clothing, an ass in a lion's skin. You saw me play the three of hearts. Well, do you know--it's very sad--he actually pretended to be the ace. Hid his head behind one card, and his feet behind another, and only--well, I thought it was the ace." At the end of the round Ethel and I moved on. "Good-bye," I said to Dorothy, "I like watching you play. If you wait here I shall be round again soon." My next partner was called Aggie. Ethel addressed her as Mary, but she was much too lively for Mary. I had never seen her before, I shall never see her again, but she will always be Aggie to me.