"You're cheating," said Sandal, "and I don't play with you any more."

"That's a lie. I did not cheat."

"Yes, you did," cried Miss Qian, bending forward and seizing the cards;
"we've been watching you. Tempest--"

"I saw it all right," said the other. "You took up that king--"

"And it's marked," said Aurora. "I believe Hay's got cards up his
sleeve. Examine the cards."

Hay, very pale, but still keeping his countenance, tried to object, but
the two young men seized and held him, while Miss Qian, with a dexterity
acquired in detective circles, rapidly searched his pockets.

"Here's another pack," she cried, and shook an ace and two kings out of
the detected swindler's sleeve, "and these cards--"

Sandal took one and went to the lamp. "Marked, by Jove!" he cried, but
with a stronger oath; "here's a pin-prick."

"You are mistaken," began Hay, quite pale.

"No," said Tempest, coolly, "we're not. Miss Qian told us you cheated,
and we laid a trap for you. You've been trying this double card and
marked card dodge several times this very evening."

"And he's tried it lots of times before," said Aurora, quickly. "I have
been at several places where Hay scooped the pool, and it was all
cheating."

"If it was," said Hay, with quivering lips, "why didn't you denounce me
then and there?"

"Because I denounce you now," she said; "you're cooked, my man. These
boys will see that the matter is made public."

"By Jove, yes!" cried Sandal, with a look of abhorrence at Hay, "and
I'll prosecute you to get back those thousands you won off me."

"I never did--"

"You've been rooking this boy for months," cried Miss Qian. "Here,
Tempest, get a constable. We'll give him in charge for swindling."

"No! no!" cried Hay, his nerve giving way under the threatened
exposure; "you'll have your money back, Sandal, I swear."

"Lord George to you now, you blackguard; and how can you pay me the
money when I know you haven't got a cent?"

"He intends to get it from the heiress," sniggered Aurora.

"Oh, dear me!" rose the plaintive voice of the sheep-dog, "what is it,
Aurora? Anything wrong?"

"We've caught Hay cheating, that's all, and the police--"

"Oh, Aurora, don't bring up the police."

"No, don't," said Hay, who was now trembling. "I'll do whatever you
like. Don't show me up--I'm--I'm going to be married soon."

"No, you sha'n't marry," cried Tempest, sharply; "I'll see this girl
myself and save her from you."

"You can