Fate by Saki (1914)
Rex Dillot, a nearly twenty-four-year-old man, is struggling financially and relies on weekend invitations to maintain a semblance of comfort. He has a history of short-lived jobs, including a stint as an assistant editor for a niche publication. Rex possesses a knack for assessing others' abilities in games, which he exploits to place bets, hoping for a significant win to alleviate his financial woes. He confides in his friend Clovis Sangrail about his desire to find a "safe" bet that could change his fortunes. During a weekend gathering, Rex learns that a fellow guest, Young Strinnit, is confident in his billiards skills. Rex sees an opportunity to bet against Strinnit, believing that Major Latton, another guest with a reputation for billiards, will outperform him. Despite Clovis's warnings about the risks of betting, Rex decides to proceed, driven by the prospect of a substantial win. As the billiards game unfolds, Rex's anxiety grows. Strinnit is performing better than expected, and Rex realizes he has wagered more than he can afford to lose. The tension escalates as the game nears its conclusion, with Strinnit leading significantly. Rex, desperate and overwhelmed, leaves the room to escape the mounting pressure. In a moment of impulsive desperation, Rex stumbles upon Mrs. Thundleford, a guest who has fallen asleep with a lamp dangerously close to her. Seizing the opportunity to create a distraction, he knocks over the lamp, causing a minor fire. The commotion draws the attention of the other guests, who rush to help. Rex's act inadvertently saves him from the embarrassment of losing the bet, as the chaos shifts focus away from the billiards game. The incident results in a temporary disruption, with guests scrambling to extinguish the flames. Although the billiard table suffers damage, Rex's quick thinking averts a more serious situation. The narrative explores themes of chance, risk, and the unpredictable nature of fate, culminating in a moment where Rex's reckless decision leads to an unexpected outcome, ultimately highlighting the absurdity of his situation and the whims of fortune.
By Saki · First published 1914 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Comedy, Drama · 2,066 words
First lines
Rex Dillot was nearly twenty-four, almost good-looking and quite penniless. His mother was supposed to make him some sort of an allowance out of what her creditors allowed her, and Rex occasionally strayed into the ranks of those who earn fitful salaries as secretaries or companions to people who are unable to cope unaided with their correspondence or their leisure. For a few months he had been assistant editor and business manager of a paper devoted to fancy mice, but the devotion had been all on one side, and the paper disappeared with a certain abruptness from club reading-rooms and other haunts where it had made a gratuitous appearance. Still, Rex lived with some air of comfort and well-being, as one can live if one is born with a genius for that sort of thing, and a kindly Providence usually arranged that his weekend invitations coincided with the dates on which his one white dinner-waistcoat was in a laundry-returned condition of dazzling cleanness. He played most games badly, and was shrewd enough to recognise the fact, but he had developed a marvellously accurate judgement in estimating the play and chances of other people, whether in a golf match, billiard handicap, or croquet tournament. By dint of parading his opinion of such and such a player's superiority with a sufficient degree of youthful assertiveness he usually succeeded in provoking a wager at liberal odds, and he looked to his weekend winnings to carry him through the financial embarrassments of his midweek existence. The trouble was, as he confided to Clovis Sangrail, that he never had enough available or even prospective cash at his command to enable him to fix the wager at a figure really worth winning.
What this Textopian page supports
Fate is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Saki
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Comedy, Drama, Satire, Short Story
- Length: 2,066 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Fate by Saki
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Fate?
- How does this short story by Saki fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- My Unwilling Neighbor by Frank R. Stockton
- A Wayside Comedy by Rudyard Kipling
- The Optimist by Saki
- The Stalled Ox by Saki
- The Mouse by Saki
- The Bag by Saki
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of fate, chance, and human folly, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Comedy — The story employs humor and irony, particularly in the interactions and situations involving Rex and his friends.
- Drama — The tension and emotional stakes in Rex's gambling predicament create a dramatic atmosphere.
- Satire — The work critiques social norms and behaviors, particularly through the lens of Rex's gambling and social interactions.
Tags
fate · destiny · irony · humor · short story · satire · human nature · conflict · choice · consequences · social commentary · character study