Hearts

The little man jumps off the stage and runs, hissing and spitting like an angry goose, to the adventurer.
“Get out! Leave her alone.”
His hands flap like washing in the wind. He points to the card.
“So she owes you money? Well, let her work and maybe she’ll have some to pay you.”
The adventurer points to the writing. The little man reads it and shakes his head, looks up at the girl at the table, who seems lost in thought and oblivious.
“That’s not her writing.”
He seems close to tears now.
“It’s a sickness with her. She can’t help it.”
He nods at the card.
“Anyway, she only ever gambles on the two of hearts.”
He turns round, the audience finished, scampers back onto the stage and begins fussing around the girl again. She slowly comes out of her dream and, wearily, tries to listen.