him in hoping to win Codille. The Dealer's, very weak, which was all in the Baron's favour, for, as already explained, it was better for the defenders to have the strength in one hand, rather than distributed between the two.

We will now follow the play of the hands as detailed in the poem (lines 49-98), calling the third player the Dealer, for so he was. The lead is with Belinda, who plays Spadille, and the Baron and the Dealer each follow with a small trump (Spades). She then leads Manille, and the same thing happens. Her third lead is Basto, to which the Baron plays another small trump, and the Dealer (not holding any more) plays any small card-say his small Club. Belinda now holds the leading trump, the King of Spades, and can place the remaining two (the Queen and the Knave) in the Baron's hand. She leads the King, the Baron plays his Knave, and the Dealer (who is left with the Knave of Clubs, and the Knave and four small Hearts) discards-according to the poem-the Knave of Clubs (Pam). This was obviously right play. Belinda has now made four tricks, and only requires one more to win the game. She knows that the remaining trump (the Queen) is with the Baron, but she does not know what his other four cards may be. She herself holds the King of Clubs, the King and Queen of Hearts, and two small Diamonds: she is justified in supposing that the Dealer has probably no more Clubs, since he has discarded the Knave, therefore it is the more likely that the Baron has at least one. If she can make her King of Clubs, the game is hers; she accordingly leads it. Alas! The Baron trumps it with his Queen of Spades; the Dealer discarding. The Baron now has the lead, and can bring in his long suit (Diamonds). He leads the King, the Dealer discards again, and Belinda follows suit with a small one. The Baron then plays the Queen of Diamonds, and the same thing happens. Then the Baron leads the Knave of Diamonds, the Dealer again discards, and Belinda, left with the King and Queen of Hearts, plays the latter. Everything now depends upon whether the Baron holds another Diamond, as well he may, seeing that the Dealer has discarded so many Hearts: if it be so, Belinda must lose Codille, and will have to pay an amount equal to what is already in the pool, as well as be beasted for all her four matadors. Fortune, however, favours her: the Baron leads the Ace of Hearts which ranks next below the Knave (Hearts not being trumps): the Dealer follows suit with his remaining Heart, and Belinda's King

Falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace.

Sharp, Miss, her History of Ufton Twyford, school at, 8.