Read Online The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann - Free Book Online

said with a hint of surprise, expecting her hostess to graciously lose to her superior.
    Mrs. Sparrow did not meet her gaze but stared down at the open face of Cassiopeia. “Not just my future, Madame, but all of ours.”
    â€œI thought the fortune-telling was finished for the evening,” The Uzanne said coolly. “Perhaps you are reading our cards, too.”
    â€œOooh, thish is so mysterious,” Carlotta slurred.
    â€œSilence, you drunken cow,” The Uzanne ordered.
    The shock of this remark reverberated through the room and brought new spectators to the table. The horrified look on Carlotta’s face disappeared at once, knowing that there would be no point in a reply. I, however, determined that The Uzanne must not be allowed to win this game, whatever it took. With only two tricks remaining, there were few options. I wandered over to an empty table and picked up a spare deck, not at all sure if I would have time to find the card I needed, much less make the pass. Carefully circumnavigating the table, I focused on the cards that remained in the ladies’ hands. Carlotta had nothing. Mrs. von Hälsen might take one more, but The Uzanne could trump if the right cards fell, and she could throw a court card for the final trick. Mrs. Sparrow was not well positioned here. I would have to enlist Mrs. von Hälsen to help give a push and still hope to pass a card. I signaled to Mrs. Sparrow that she should lead with spades.
    Mrs. Sparrow placed her best remaining card, the knave of spades. Carlotta placed the three of hearts. The Uzanne smiled and placed the spade queen. Mrs. von Hälsen sat back in her chair; I could see the struggle in her face. She could take the trick if she wished, but she could win favor by “accidentally” throwing a card out of suit and giving The Uzanne the game. I moved to the back of the room and began to sing (quite badly) some altered lines from Bellman’s “Elegy over the Fight at Gröna Lund Tavern” as a desperate signal to Mrs. von Hälsen to put The Uzanne and herself on equal footing as losers.
    Â 
    A game too hot disputed
    Turns sisters oft to rue.
    Toot toot toot my back is blue!
    That blow is best eluded
    There’s no occasion for.
    Toot toot toot ah play no more!
    Â 
    Many of the spectators laughed and joined in, and soon even Duke Karl and his entourage were on their feet. The Uzanne closed her eyes in disgust and said, “That tune is stolen from Handel.” I made my way to Mrs. Sparrow and grazed her shoulder as I shook the hand of a fellow reveler. In that moment, I pressed a card between her rib cage and her upper arm, a clumsy trick that only the hubbub of the moment concealed. If anyone could extract that card unnoticed, it was Mrs. Sparrow.
    I turned to the table again, laughing and joking with the others as we continued to sing. Mrs. von Hälsen looked toward me with a merry glance. I inclined my head toward Mrs. Sparrow with a smile and a nod, and sank back into the shadow of my window seat. The game would end in a draw if The Uzanne took this trick, but there was nothing more that I could do.
    Mrs. von Hälsen looked at The Uzanne; she had one hand placed over her remaining cards, the other with fingers restlessly tapping ever closer to the fans. Her eyes were focused on the dark garden of Eva, and the ivory perfection of the Chinese Princess spread helplessly in the center of the table. Mrs. von Hälsen looked at Mrs. Sparrow, who returned her glance with one of warm concern. Mrs. von Hälsen gently placed the spade king over The Uzanne’s queen and pulled the cards to her with a flourish, then led the final trick with the eight of diamonds, a losing card. Her features were serene. The Uzanne glanced up at Mrs. von Hälsen, and the corners of her lips rose a fraction. But then Mrs. Sparrow placed the diamond king on the table. Carlotta threw the four of clubs with a sigh. The Uzanne laid down