RostĂłv submitted. He let the eight hundred remain and laid down a seven of hearts with a torn corner, which he had picked up from the floor. He well remembered that seven afterwards. He laid down the seven of hearts, on which with a broken bit of chalk he had written â800 rublesâ in clear upright figures; he emptied the glass of warm champagne that was handed him, smiled at DĂłlokhovâs words, and with a sinking heart, waiting for a seven to turn up, gazed at DĂłlokhovâs hands which held the pack. Much depended on RostĂłvâs winning or losing on that seven of hearts. On the previous Sunday the old count had given his son two thousand rubles, and though he always disliked speaking of money difficulties had told NikolĂĄy that this was all he could let him have till May, and asked him to be more economical this time. NikolĂĄy had replied that it would be more than enough for him and that he gave his word of honor not to take anything more till the spring. Now only twelve hundred rubles was left of that money, so that this seven of hearts meant for him not only the loss of sixteen hundred rubles, but the necessity of going back on his word.
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