engagement has been broken: "unlucky in love, lucky at cards". Tomsky entertains the others with a song. Then Chekalinsky leads a traditional gamblers' song. Settling down to play, they are surprised when Herman arrives, wild and distracted. Yeletsky senses a confrontation and asks Tomsky to be his second if a duel should result. Herman, intent only on betting, starts with a huge bet of 40,000 rubles. He bets the three and wins, upsetting the others with his maniacal expression. Next he bets the seven and wins again. At this he takes a wine glass and declares that life is but a game. Yeletsky accepts his challenge to bet on the next round. Herman bets everything he has on the ace but when he shows his card he is told he is holding the queen of spades. Seeing the Countess's ghost laughing at her vengeance, Herman takes his own life and asks Yeletsky's and Liza's forgiveness. The others pray for his tormented soul. Principal arias and numbers Act 1 Aria: "I don't even know her name" «Я имени еë не знаю» (Ya imyeni yeyo nye znayu) (Herman) Aria: "Once in Versailles (Three Cards)" «Однажды в Версале (Три Карты)» (Odnazhdï v Versalye (Tri kartï)) (Tomsky) Romance: "Lovely lady friends" «Подруги милые» (Podrugi milïe) (Polina) Arioso: "Why these tears" «Откуда эти слëзы» (Otkuda eti slyozï) (Liza) Aria: "Forgive me, celestial creature" «Прости, небесное созданье» (Prosti, nyebesnoye sozdanye) (Herman) Act 2 Aria: "I love you beyond measure" «Я вас люблю» (Ya vas lyublyu) (Yeletsky) Aria: "Je crains de lui parler la nuit" ("I fear to talk with him at night", in French) (Countess) Act 3 Arioso: "I am worn out by grief" «Ax! истoмилacь я гopeм» (Akh! istomilas ya goryem) (Liza) Song: "If pretty girls could fly like birds" «Если б милые девицы» (Yesli b milïye dyevitsï) (Tomsky) Aria: "What is our life? A game!" «Что наша жизнь? Игра!» (Shto nasha zhizn? Igra!) (Herman) Instrumentation Source: Tchaikovsky Research Strings: violins I & II, violas, cellos, double basses Woodwinds: piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets (B-flat, A), bass clarinet (B-flat), two bassoons Brass: four horns (F), two trumpets (B-flat, A), three trombones, tuba Percussion: timpani, snare drum, bass drum Other: harp, piano In popular culture "Life is but a game" ( (Shto nasha zhizn? Igra!), literally, "What is our life? A game!") a quote from act 3 of the opera, became a