The tale begins in a cozy room where a group of young military officers gather, their energies focused on a nocturnal card game. Among them is Hermann, an officer who stands apart by merely observing, and not participating in, the game. He explains this abstention as a strategy to safeguard his financial future, preferring the security of necessities over the allure of excesses. The discussion shifts when Prince Pavel Tomsky shares a captivating story about his grandmother, a formidable socialite in her youth, who once faced financial ruin at the card tables in France. Desperate, she turned to a friend, the mysterious Count St. Germain, who gifted her a secret method for winning. Armed with this knowledge, she reclaimed her losses the following night and settled her debts.

Reactions to a Tale

The officers respond to Tomsky's anecdote with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. One dismisses it as mere fantasy, another suspects tampered cards, and the third attributes her victory to sheer luck. Tomsky, though unsure himself, maintains that a secret indeed exists, lamenting that his grandmother never shared it with her descendants. As dawn approaches, the officers reluctantly end their card game, each pondering the story they've heard.

The Countess and Her Ward

The focus shifts to the countess, now an aging woman whose main occupation is harassing her household staff. Her ward, Elizaveta Ivanovna, relies entirely on the countess, enduring her capricious whims and contradictory commands. Trapped in this oppressive environment, Elizaveta finds little respite or hope for change.

A Chance Encounter

One day, as Elizaveta sits sewing, she notices a young officer standing on the street corner, gazing up at her window. It is Hermann, driven by the story of the countess and her secret, and obsessed with uncovering it before she passes away. Imagining ways to breach the household, he sees Elizaveta as a potential ally. He pens letters filled with declarations of love, some borrowed from German novels, pleading for a meeting. Initially hesitant, Elizaveta is eventually swayed by the prospect of escaping her monotonous life and arranges a clandestine rendezvous with Hermann.

The Plan Unfolds

Hermann executes his plan, sneaking into the house while the countess and Elizaveta attend a ball. Instead of heading to Elizaveta's room, he waits in the countess's quarters, determined to learn the secret directly from her. Upon her return, Hermann confronts the countess, begging for her to reveal the mystery. The countess refuses, and in a moment of frustration, Hermann brandishes a pistol, inadvertently causing her a fatal fright. He retreats to Elizaveta's room, explaining the tragic mishap and revealing his true motives. Heartbroken, Elizaveta realizes that Hermann's interest was purely financial, not romantic.

The Disturbing Sight

Though Hermann's remorse is overshadowed by his fixation on the lost secret, he dutifully attends the countess's funeral. There, as he pays his respects, he sees her eyes flicker open, followed by a conspiratorial wink that leaves him reeling. Overcome by this eerie experience, Hermann stumbles backward, and upon recovering, seeks solace in food and wine.

A Midnight Visit

Later that night, Hermann falls into a deep, wine-induced slumber, only to awaken abruptly at three in the morning. Glancing at the window, he sees a fleeting face, and soon hears the door to his room creak open. The spectral figure of the countess appears, instructing the startled Hermann: "He is to play a three, seven, and ace three nights in a row, and then never play again." The specter vanishes, leaving Hermann unsure whether it was merely a dream. Yet, the words haunt him, consuming his thoughts.

A New Obsession

Hermann's...