The Opposite House: A Novel — page 139: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

134 Lhe Opposite House. with which she had charmed him, which he had idolized and then abandoned? All the blissful vi- sions of former happiness rose before his memory ; he was compelled to think of the hours which he had dreamed away in her society; he saw the fasci- nating creature dance over the boards; heard her gay laugh when she pledged him from the foaming goblet. The sounds echoed around him as they had done in those days; the green cloth wavered before his eyes, and notes of sweet music floated faintly from the distant ball-room. “Will you bet with me, Gerrald?” asked Brand, holding out the gold coin. ‘“ Try once.” Traugott took it; it burned between his fingers and intoxicated his senses; he no longer realized where he was, what he had promised ; he knew only that everything around affected him like a spell; he mechanically held out his hand—and staked it. Brand rose, and Traugott, dropping into the chair, unconsciously took the heap of gold which he had won. He played on and on; the sum increased under his hands, and the passion of gambling glowed in his eyes and crimsoned his brow with a deepen- ing flush. Curious spectators gathered around and watched him. He was not aware of his own good fortune. Bank-notes came to him, but he pushed them Comicbooolk<s