all that would have come about but for a man who scornfully cheated at cards to feed the fires of his maniac ego ; but for the stuffy chairman of blades who detected him ; but for m. who agreed to help an old friend ; but for bond 's half-remembered lessons from a card-sharper ; but for vallance 's precautions ; but for gala 's head for figures ; but for a whole pattern of tiny circumstances , a whole pattern of chance .