now.
In his mind he had already set aside the original five guineas which
came from his grandmother. With strange ease and through no merit of his
own, yet perfectly straightforwardly and honestly, he had become the
owner of another five; these he felt more justified in risking on the
hazard of the game.

But the goddess of Fortune smiling benignly on this country-bred lad,
had in a wayward mood apparently taken him under her special protection.
He staked and won again, and then again pleased at his success ... in
spite of himself feeling the subtle poison of excitement creeping into
his veins ... yet remaining perfectly calm outwardly the while.

Segrave, on the other hand, was losing in exact proportion to the
newcomer's winnings: already his pile of gold had perceptibly
diminished, whilst the hectic flush on his cheeks became more and more
accentuated, the glitter in his eyes more unnatural and feverish, his
hands as they shuffled and dealt the cards more trembling and febrile.

"'Pon my honor," quoth Sir Marmaduke, throwing a careless glance at the
table, "meseems you are in luck, my good Lambert. Doubtless, you are not
sorry now that you allowed yourself to be persuaded."

"'Tis not unpleasant to win," rejoined Lambert lightly, "but believe me,
sir, the game itself gives me no pleasure."

"I pay knave and upwards," declared Segrave in a dry and hollow voice,
and with burning eyes fixed upon his new and formidable opponent.

"My last sovereign, par Dieu!" swore Lord Walterton, throwing the money
across to Segrave with an unsteady hand.

"And one of my last," said Sir Michael, as he followed suit.

"And what is your stake, Master Lambert?" queried Segrave.

"Twenty pounds I see," replied the young man, as with a careless hand he
counted over the gold which lay pell-mell on his card; "I staked on the
king without counting."

Segrave in his turn pushed some gold towards him. The pile in front of
him was not half the size it had been before this stranger from the
country had sat down to play. He tried to remain master of himself, not
to show before these egotistical, careless cavaliers all the agony of
mind which he now endured and which had turned to positive physical
torture.

The ghost of stolen money, of exposure, of pillory and punishment which
had so perceptibly paled as he saw the chance of replacing by his
unexpected winnings that which he had purloined, once more rose to
confront him. Again he saw