The Lighted Match

"Ah, I see the Señor knows of it," interpolated Blanco. "The tall man

with the extremely pale face and the singularly piercing eye who sits

facing us,"--Blanco paused,--"is the Duke Louis Delgado. He is the

nephew of the late King of Galavia, and if--" the Spaniard gave an

expressive shrug, and watched the smoke ring he had blown widen as it

floated up toward the ceiling--"if by any chance, or mischance, Prince

Karyl, who is to be crowned at Puntal three days hence, should be called

to his reward in heaven, the gentleman who sits there would be crowned

King of Galavia in his stead."