Part 3 (2/2)

”Four!” cried one of the gentlemen.

”d.a.m.n!” said my cousin, and he mopped his forehead with his handkerchief. His antagonist picked up the dice with inimitable nonchalance, barely shook them in the cup, and let them roll idly out on to the table.

”Three!”

Elmscott heaved a sigh of relief. The other stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

”'Tis a n.o.ble house, your house in Monmouth Square,” he remarked.

At the second throw, Elmscott discovered a most nervous anxiety. He held the cup so long in his hand that I feared he would lose the courage to complete the game. I felt, in truth, a personal shame at his indecision, and I gazed around with the full expectation of seeing a like feeling expressed upon the features of those who watched. But they wore one common look of strained expectancy. At last Elmscott threw.

”Nine!” cried one, and a low murmur of voices buzzed for an instant and suddenly ceased as the other took up the dice.

”Two!”

Both players rose as with one motion. Elmscott tossed down his throat the brandy in his tumbler--it had stood by his side untasted since the early part of the night--and then turned to me with an almost hysterical outburst.

”One moment.”

It was the youth who spoke, and his voice rang loud and strong. His weariness had slipped from him like a mask. He bent across the table and stretched out his arm, with his forefinger pointing at my cousin.

”I will play you one more bout, Lord Elmscott. Against all that you have won back from me to-night--the money, your house, your estate--I will pit my docks in the city of Bristol. But I claim one condition,”

and he glanced at me and paused.

”If it affects my cousin's presence----” Elmscott began.

”It does not,” the other interrupted. ”'Tis a trivial condition--a whim of mine, a mere whim.”

”What is it, then?” I asked, for in some unaccountable way I was much disquieted by his change of manner, and dreaded the event of his proposal.

”That while your cousin throws you hold his buckles in your hands.”

It were impossible to describe the effect which this extraordinary request produced. At any other time it would have seemed no more than laughable. But after these long hours of play we were all tinder to a spark of superst.i.tion. Nothing seemed too whimsical for belief. Luck had proved so tricksy a sprite that the most trivial object might well take its fancy and overset the balance of its favours. The fierce vehemence of the speaker, besides, breaking thus unexpectedly through a crust of equanimity, carried conviction past the porches of the ears. So each man hung upon Elmscott's answer as upon the arbitrament of his own fortune.

For myself, I took a quick step towards my cousin; but the youth shot a glance of such imperious menace at me that I stopped shamefaced like a faulty schoolboy. However, Elmscott caught my movement and, I think, the look which arrested me.

”Not to-day,” he said, ”if you will pardon me. I am over-tired myself, and would fain keep to our bargain.” Thereupon he came over to me.

”Now, Morrice,” he exclaimed, ”it is your turn. You have the money.

What else d'ye lack? What else d'ye lack?”

”I need the swiftest horse in your stables,” I replied.

Elmscott burst into a laugh.

”You shall have it--the swiftest horse in my stables. You shall e'en take it as a gift. Only I fear 'twill leave your desires unsatisfied.”

And he chuckled again.

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