"Why do you play, then?"

"I don't. I staked that louis because I wanted to see whether I should be
interested. I wasn't, as I began to think about the guns. Have you had
breakfast?"

Again Zora was startled. A sane man does not talk of breakfasting at nine
o'clock in the evening. But if he were a lunatic perhaps it were wise to
humor him.

"Yes," she said. "Have you?"

"No. I've only just got up."

"Do you mean to say you've been asleep all day?"

"What's the noisy day made for?"

"Let us sit down," said Zora.

They found one of the crimson couches by the wall vacant, and sat down.
Zora regarded him curiously.

"Why should you be happier if I took care of your money?"

"I shouldn't spend it. I might meet a man who wanted to sell me a
gas-engine."

"But you needn't buy it."