Page:The Yellow Book - 13.djvu/341

Rh "It's just as well Morris and the rest of that crew should think so, but the truth is, I succeeded to an encumbered estate, the rent-roll of which barely suffices to pay the mortgage interest. Knowles is let furnished, Buckhurst is so dilapidated no one will hire it. I can't sell, because of the entail. I can't work, for I was never given a profession. I can only play cards; and by playing systematically and regulating, as I tell you, my whole life to that end, I manage to pay my way.&quot;

&quot;Twenty thousand dollars in a night,&quot; murmured the Other Fellow at Underhill's ear, &quot;would not only pay your way but pave it too. Not?"

&quot;Oh, dry up!&quot; advised the young man. &quot;You're such a damned literal chap! Can't you see he's speaking metaphorically?&quot;

&quot;So now, you understand the tragedy of the cold mutton,&quot; Garve concluded smiling. They walked on a bit in silence, until Garve resumed in exactly the same even, melodious voice in which he had last spoken, &quot;You thought I cheated to-night, didn't you?&quot;

Underhill was inexpressibly shocked and pained by this sudden, naked confrontation with his thought. Besides, he thought it no longer. Garve's explanations had convinced him of Garve's probity; he was subjugated by Garve's charm.

&quot;No, no, no! Don't say such things!&quot; he protested. &quot;A thousand times no!&quot;

&quot;All the same, you thought I cheated,&quot; repeated Garve, standing still and looking at him oddly. &quot;And I did cheat! .... I lost only when it suited my purpose to lose. Every time I had forced the cards.&quot;

He remained imperturbable, cold, as he said this. It was, perhaps, only the moonlight that made his handsome face look haggard and pale.

The Yellow Book—Vol. XIII.