'
Ratsey raised his glass almost before it was filled. He sniffed the
liquor and smacked his lips. 'O rare milk of Ararat!' he said, 'it is
sweet and strong, and sets the heart at ease. And now get the
backgammon-board, John, and set it for us on the table.' So they fell to
the game, and I took a sly sip at the liquor, but nearly choked myself,
not being used to strong waters, and finding it heady and burning in the
throat. Neither man spoke, and there was no sound except the constant
rattle of the dice, and the rubbing of the pieces being moved across the
board. Now and then one of the players stopped to light his pipe, and at
the end of a game they scored their totals on the table with a bit of
chalk. So I watched them for an hour, knowing the game myself, and being
interested at seeing Elzevir's backgammon-board, which I had heard talked
of before.
It had formed part of the furniture of the Why Not? for generations of
landlords, and served perhaps to pass time for cavaliers of the Civil
Wars. All was of oak, black and polished, board, dice-boxes, and men, but
round the edge ran a Latin inscription inlaid in light wood, which I read
on that first evening, but did not understand till Mr. Glennie translated
it to me. I had cause to remember it afterwards, so I shall set it down
here in Latin for those who know that tongue, _Ita in vita ut in lusu
alae pessima jactura arte corrigenda est_, and in English as Mr.
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