To talk to Jacobo, Marco had shooed us from the kitchen. Juliet and I wandered the house for a while, taking in some of the new paintings in the upstairs hallway and testing the window seats. It is usually Marco's way to tell us what we need to know if and when we need to know it. I have not met Jacobo before, but I think Juliet may have. My concern is mainly for the man's health, not his secrets. Marco has taught me about secrets.

We are all in the living room, now. At the least, Marco has told us that Jacobo will likely be staying with us for a few days. I am in the corner, working a puzzle in the good chair, and Marco is opposite, making noises at his desk. Juliet and Jacobo are on cushions on either side of the coffee table in the middle of the room. Juliet is teaching Jacobo to play Casino.

I believe that Jacobo's tousled state is a natural one to him, even now, when I think he is beginning to relax. His hands that hold the cards shake less. He eyes the cards that lay haphazard on the small area of cleared table, then again at his own. His lips move to himself, reciting the rules like prayers: "ten of coins", he whispers. "Two of swords, and swords, too." I hear him fine. He is rocking back and forth a little.

On the other side, Juliet watches him as still as winter water, curled upon her oversized pillow. Her eyes are darker in this light, and they never leave him. She lets her cards fall from her fingertips across those she wants from the table, and then darts in to sweep them up after a pause. The cards snap as she pulls them across the edge of the table. She plays very quickly, and it makes him play fast, too.

There is no room for piles on the table, so they pull their cards off and let them fall to the floor in front of them. I know that neither of them are cheating. Juliet is winning handily now, but in the winning she is teaching him things, and he is getting better.