CHAPTER X
"I don't think," Engleton said slowly, "that I care about playing anymore--just now."
The Princess yawned as she leaned back in her chair. Both Forrest andDe la Borne, who had left his place to turn up one of the lamps,glanced stealthily round at the speaker.
"I am not keen about it myself," Forrest said smoothly. "After all,though, it's only three o'clock."
Cecil's fingers shook, so that his tinkering with the lamp failed, andthe room was left almost in darkness. Forrest, glad of an excuse toleave his place, went to the great north window and pulled up theblind. A faint stream of grey light stole into the room. The Princessshrieked, and covered her face with her hands.
"For Heaven's sake, Nigel," she cried, "pull that blind down! I do notcare for these Rembrandtesque effects. Tobacco ash and cards and mycomplexion do not look at their best in such a crude light."
Forrest obeyed, and the room for a moment was in darkness. There was asomewhat curious silence. The Princess was breathing softly butquickly. When at last the lamp burned up again, every one glancedfurtively toward the young man who was leaning back in his chair withhis eyes fixed absently upon the table.
"Well, what is it to be?" Forrest asked, reseating himself. "One morerubber or bed?"
"I've lost a good deal more than I care to," Cecil remarked in asomewhat unnatural tone, "but I say another brandy and soda, and onemore rubber. There are some sandwiches behind you, Engleton."
"Thank you," Engleton answered without looking up. "I am not hungry."
The Princess took up a fresh pack of cards, and let them fall idlythrough her fingers. Then she took a cigarette from the gold case whichhung from her chatelaine, and lit it.
"One more rubber, then," she said. "After that we will go to bed."
The others came toward the table, and the Princess threw down thecards. They all three cut. Engleton, however, did not move.
"I think," he said, "that you did not quite understand me. I said thatI did not care to play any more."
"Three against one," the Princess remarked lightly.
"Why not play cut-throat, then?" Engleton remarked. "It would be anexcellent arrangement."
"Why so?" Forrest asked.
"Because you could rob one another," Engleton said. "It would beinteresting to watch."
A few seconds intense silence followed Engleton's words. It was thePrincess who spoke first. Her tone was composed but chilly. She lookedtoward Engleton with steady eyes.
"My dear Lord Ronald," she said, "is this a joke? I am afraid my senseof humour grows a little dull at this hour of the morning."
"It was not meant for a joke," Engleton said. "My words were spoken inearnest."
The Princess, without any absolute movement, seemed suddenly to becomemore erect. One forgot her rouge, her blackened eyebrows, her powderedcheeks. It was the great lady who looked at Engleton.
"Are we to take this, Lord Ronald," she asked, "as a seriousaccusation?"
"You can take it for what it is, madam," Engleton answered--"the truth."
Cecil de la Borne rose to his feet and leaned across the table. Hischeeks were as pale as death. His voice was shaking.
"I am your host, Engleton," he said, "and I demand an explanation ofwhat you have said. Your accusation is absurd. You must be drunk or outof your senses."
"I am neither drunk nor out of my senses," Engleton answered, "nor am Isuch an utter fool as to be so easily deceived. The fact that you, asmy partner, played like an idiot, made rotten declarations, and revokedwhen one rubber was nearly won, I pass over. That may or may not havebeen your miserable idea of the game. Apart from that, however, Iregret to have discovered that you, Forrest, and you, madam," he added,addressing the Princess, "have made use throughout the last sevenrubbers of a code with your fingers, both for the declarations and forthe leads. My suspicions were aroused, I must confess, by accident. Itwas remarkably easy, however, to verify them. Look here!"
Engleton touched his forehead.
"Hearts!" he said.
He touched his lip.
"Diamonds!" he added.
He passed his fingers across his eyebrows.
"Clubs!" he remarked.
He beat with his fourth finger softly upon the table.
"Spades!"
Major Forrest rose to his feet.
"Lord Ronald," he said, "I am exceedingly sorry that owing to myintroduction you have become a guest in this house. As for yourridiculous accusation, I deny it."
"And I," the Princess murmured.
"Naturally," Engleton answered smoothly. "I really do not see what elseyou could do. I regret very much to have been the unfortunate means ofbreaking up such a pleasant little house-party. I am going to my roomnow to change my clothes, and I will trespass upon your hospitality,Mr. De la Borne, only so far as to beg you to let me have a cart, orsomething of the sort, to drive me into Wells, as soon as your peoplecome on the scene."
Engleton rose to his feet, and with a stiff little bow, walked towardthe door. He, too, seemed somehow during the last few minutes to haveshown signs of a greater virility than was at any time manifest in hisboyish, somewhat unintelligent, face. He carried himself with a newdignity, and he spoke with the decision of an older man. For a momentthey watched him go. Then Forrest, obeying a lightning-like glance fromthe Princess, crossed the room swiftly and stood with his back to thedoor.
"Engleton," he said, "this is absurd. We can afford to ignore your madbehaviour and your discourtesy, but before you leave this room we mustcome to an understanding."
Lord Ronald stood with his hands behind his back.
"I had imagined," he said, "that an understanding was exactly what wehad come to. My words were plain enough, were they not? I am leavingthis house because I have found myself in the company of sharks andcard-sharpers."
Forrest's eyes narrowed. A quick little breath passed between histeeth. He took a step forward toward the young man, as though about tostrike him.
Engleton, however, remained unmoved.
"You are going to carry away a story like this?" he said hoarsely.
"I shall tell my friends," Engleton answered, "just as much or aslittle as I choose of my visit here. Since, however, you are curious, Imay say that should I find you at any future time in any respectablehouse, it will be my duty to inform any one of my friends who arepresent of the character of their fellow-guest. Will you be so good asto stand away from that door?"
"No!" Forrest answered.
Engleton turned toward Cecil.
"Mr. De la Borne," he said, "may I appeal to you, as it is your house,to allow me egress from it?"
Cecil came hesitatingly up to the two. The Princess, with a sweep ofher skirts, followed him.
"Major Forrest is right," she declared. "We cannot have this madman goback to London to spread about slanderous tales. Major Forrest willstand away from that door, Lord Ronald, as soon as you pass your wordthat what has happened to-night will remain a secret."
Engleton laughed contemptuously.
"Not I," he answered. "Exactly what I said to Major Forrest, I repeat,madam, to you, and to you, sir, my host. I shall give my friends thebenefit of my experience whenever it seems to me advisable."
Forrest locked the door, and put the key into his pocket.
"We shall hope, Lord Ronald," he said quietly, "to induce you to changeyour mind."
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