Norbert Jacques
German
The story begins with an elegant, well-dressed old gentleman introducing himself, though his name is not understood by anyone. He casually places a large sum of money on a gambling table. He was brought to the club by Hull, a young man from a wealthy industrialist family. They begin a game of twenty-one, with unlimited stakes, and initially, the play seems normal, with wins and losses alternating. However, Hull begins to lose significantly once the old gentleman takes over the bank. Hull tries to maintain composure, but inwardly he is agitated, drinking heavily, and losing track of his money, which seems to vanish into the stranger's pile. His senses become clouded, and he feels trapped by an invisible web. Despite his attempts to curb his losses by lowering his bets, he continues to lose. The old gentleman offers to continue holding the bank, his demeanor suggesting a veiled authority. Hull, despite his increasing desperation, continues to play. He feels a strange compulsion, as if he is losing with enjoyment, and the money passes hands like sick toads. He recalls trying to leave the table for fresh air but felt as if he were tied to his seat, his thoughts scattering into a void. He was not typically a reckless gambler, usually controlling his play, but that night he loses all inhibition, playing as if he wants to lose. The game continues with Hull playing badly and irrationally. His friends try to intervene, suggesting they play a few more rounds. Hull, however, becomes enraged, shouting and hitting the table. The old gentleman calmly stops playing, pockets his winnings as if they were a handkerchief, and prepares to leave. In a moment of desperate defiance, Hull declares 'Va banque!' and reveals he has twenty-one. But in a moment of profound confusion and self-betrayal, he throws his cards face down, declaring he has lost again. The old gentleman calmly reveals his cards, his eyes momentarily flaring with an unreadable emotion, counts his winnings, and names a sum. Hull empties his wallet, owing thirty thousand. He agrees to pay ten thousand the next afternoon with a promissory note. The stranger signs his name as Balling and gives an address at the Hotel Excelsior. Hull leaves, perplexed by the encounter, unable to comprehend what has happened. The next day, Hull goes to the Hotel Excelsior to pay Balling, only to find a different man in room 15, who denies being the Balling from the club and denies recognizing the handwriting in Hull's notebook. The mystery deepens as Hull realizes his 20,000 marks are unaccounted for, and the person he owes money to refuses to accept it. Hull's experience leaves him unsettled, feeling as if an invisible force is guiding him towards dangerous adventures. He confides in his friend Karstens, who suggests he seek medical help. Hull remains bewildered by the night's events, suspecting his friends may have played a cruel prank. The narrative introduces the legend of a mysterious gambler who appears in various disguises and consistently wins large sums, leaving authorities baffled by their uncanny luck. Hull, now drawn into society through a dancer from a nightclub, hears these tales and begins to suspect a connection to his own bewildering experience, though he initially dismisses it as his friends' prank. His suspicions are confirmed when a state prosecutor, von Wenk, visits him, seeking information about the gambling night. Von Wenk reveals that the authorities are investigating a series of gambling exploits attributed to a single, elusive figure. Von Wenk suspects Hull's experience might be key to uncovering this larger criminal operation, and he draws Hull into his investigation, much to Hull's initial reluctance and later his growing involvement in uncovering a vast criminal conspiracy led by the enigmatic Dr. Mabuse.
