“Chow,” said Miss Ganett. “What an extraordinary idea? I wonder if you can be

right.”

 

“Talking of poisons,” said the colonel. “Eh—what? Haven’t I discarded?

 

Oh! Eight Bamboos.”

 

“Mah Jong!” said Miss Ganett.

 

Caroline was very much annoyed.

 

“One Red Dragon,” she said regretfully, “and I should have had a hand of three

doubles.”

 

“I’ve had two Red Dragons all the time,” I mentioned.

 

“So exactly like you, James,” said Caroline reproachfully. “You’ve no conception

of the spirit of the game.”

 

I myself thought I had played rather cleverly. I should have had to pay Caroline

an enormous amount if she had gone Mah Jong. Miss Ganett’s Mah Jong was of the

poorest variety possible, as Caroline did not fail to point out to her.

 

East Wind passed, and we started a new hand in silence.