17 SEPTEMBER 1954, Page 12

The Trick

His photograph had been in all the papers, That sensual sharper with his common trick; And the resemblance did not escape us— The dreamy eyes, the fingers on the pack, The ready talk, the pale hands soft and quick; Yet we both took to him, and did not care; Reckless we learnt hiS pleasurable games, Played hours away, were only half aware That when we wished he dealt us kings and queens-- Like royalty we didn't count our gains.

Yet his illicit ace of hearts we saw, And saw each other see, and remonstrated, Argued, broke up the game, invoked the law— Discovering suddenly that we both hated Each other for refusing to be cheated.