Part 5 (1/2)
”Warburton, I- Oh, do you think itto rey eyes some of Warburton's severity fell away from him
”Master Richard, I want to think the best I can of you Master Jack would tellWill you notcan you not explain how it came that you allowed him to bear the blame of your cheat?”
Richard shuddered
”There's no explanationno excuse I forced it on him! On Jack, my brother! Because I was ht of it is driving et; and thenand thenI ht it all back to me Ever since that day I have not kno to live and not shriek the truth to everyone! And I never shall! I never shall!”
”Tell me, sir,” pleaded Warburton, touched in spite of himself
Richard's head sunk into his hands
”The whole scene is a nightmareI think I must have been madI scarce knehat I was about I-”
”Gently, sir Re What induced you to mark the cards?”
”That debt to Gundry My father would not meet it; I had to find the money I could not face the scandalI tell you I was ht else I ceased to care for John because I thought hirace which would take her fro; I knew I could not pay Gad! but I can see
”Jack had played Milward beforehis luck had turned at lastfor he always lost at cards Milward and I played with the same pack that they had usedThere was another table, I think Dare was dicing with Fitzgerald; so faro with Jack behind hAnd all the ti
”The pin of my cravat fell out on to ht that I should mark the cards seemed to flash into my mindoh, it was despicable, I know! I held the ace of clubs in my hand: I scratched it with that pinin one corner It was easily done By degrees I s
”No one noticed, but I was nervousI dared do no an to winnot very much Then Tracy Belmanoir came across the rooo awry It was the beginning of the trouble
”Tracy stood behindI could feel hiI don't kno long he stayed like thatit seemed hours I could feel his eyesI could have shriekedI'll swear
”Suddenly he moved I had played the ace of hearts He said: 'One moment!' in that soft, sinister voice of his
”Milas surprised I tried to tellThe mark on that card was so faint that I could scarce see it ht it impossible that he, a mere onlooker, should discover it He stepped forward I reht the dia I think ant Devil! Extravagant Devil!' and stare at those winking jewels Then I thought: 'He is Lavinia's brother, but I do not like his like thatand my throat was dryparched
”He bent over the tablestretched out his white, white handturned over the ace
lifted his quizzing glassand stared down at the card Then he dropped the glass and drew out his snuff-boxIt had Aphrodite enamelled on the lid I remember it so distinctlyI heard Tracy ask Milward to exale himI could scarce keep my hands still” Richard paused He drew his hand across his eyes, shuddering
”Milward saw the scratch He cried out that the cards were athered about our tableall talking! Jack had his hand on h the pack But all the while I could look at no one but TracyAndover He see, in those black clothes of his His eyes were al atht he kneanted to shout out that he rong! I wanted to shriek to him to take his eyes away! Heaven knohat I should have done!but he looked awayat Jack, with that sneering smile on his damned mask of a face! I could have killed him for that s at Tracy
”Everyone atching themno one looked at me If they had theyon Andover's lips, looking froerald dropped his handkerchiefI was absurdly interested in that I ondering why he did not pick it up, when Andover spoke again'And Carstares' luck turned?' Like that, Warburton! With just that faint, questioning in his voice
”Before Jack could speak there was an outcry Dare cried 'Shaht But I saw theIt was suspicious that Jack should have had that run of luckand that he should lose as soon as he left that table
”Milwardpoor, silly Milwardgaped at Tracy and stuttered that surely 'twas another pack we had used I could hardly breathe! Then Andover corrected hiht of noticingonly he!
”I can see Jack now, standing there so stiffly, with his head thrown up, and those blue eyes of his flashi+ng
”'Do I understand you to accuse me, Belmanoir?' he said Oh, but he was furious!
”Tracy never said a word Only his eyes just flickered toerDare called out that the suggestion was preposterous That John should cheat!
”Tracy asked hi voice now!
”Dare went purpleyou know his way, Warburton
”'Opened in your presence on this table!' he cried
”'By Carstares!' smiled Tracy
”It was true But why should Tracy remember it, and none other? They stared at him, amazed Dare turned to Jack for corroboration He nodded I think he never looked haughtier
”You kno fond of Jack Dare was? He tried to bluster it offtried to get control over the affair It was to no avail We were puppets, worked by that devil, Belhastly sceneHe pointed out that only three of us had used that pack: Jack, Milward and I
”Jack laughed
”'Next you will accuse dick!' he snapped scornfully
”'One of you, certainly,' smiled Andover 'Or Milward'
”Then everyone realised that one of us three must have marked the cards Milas upset, but no one suspected hi as I live I shall never forget the horror of thosebetween Lavinia and me I tell you, Warburton, I would have co would have been too blackI could not bear to lose her You don't knohat she ravely ”No, no! No one could iine the depths of my love for her! I think not even Jack
I felt his hand leave my shoulderThe truth had dawned on him I heard the way the breath hissed between his teeth as he realisedSo him I don't excuse myselfI know my conduct was beyond words dastardly I looked across at hih I could scarce believe ht But Jack knew better He kneas i to convey to hihtGod forgive ht take the blah I hen I saw that hurt, wistful little smile on his lips, I nearly blurted out the whole truth Not quiteI suppose I was too ain to Dare He said: 'I owe you an apology, sir'
”Dare sprang forward, catching hi out that it could not be true!
When Jack laughedhe fell away froue And all of the at Jack! And Jack's facegrowing paler and hardereverytheir backs to him Davenant even Jim Davenant walked away to the fireplace with Evans
”I could not look at Jack I dared not I could not go to hiht I had to leave him therein the middle of the roomalone The awful hurt in his eyesroundI felt sickI know I fell back intomy face I hardly cared whether they suspected reat was the love between us, and they were not surprised that I broke down
”I heard Andover's soft voicehe was telling some tale to Dare Oh, they ell-bred those nored Jack!
”Jack spoke again I could guess how bravely he was keeping a proud front I knoord for hat he said: 'Mr Dare, your Grace, Gentle the cause of so unpleasant an incident Pray give me leave'
”They paid no heed I heard him walk to the doorheard him open it I could not look at him Hehe pausedand said just one word: 'dick!' quite softly Heaven kno I got to him! I know I overturned oing, dick?' I shouted 'Yes,' at hi me out
”Andand all he said was: 'Poor old dick!'Hehe had no word of blao back and tell the truthas I would have done Ay, Warburton, when Jack called me to him, I could have cried it aloudbuthe would not have it