Part 3 (2/2)

”Do you think it great to be a fool--and a gambler?” she demanded.

a.s.shlin set down his gla.s.s noisily.

”Anthony a.s.shlin was no gambler,” he said. ”He was a sportsman.”

Clodagh's lip curled.

”A sportsman!” she exclaimed. ”Is it sport to keep game-c.o.c.ks, to play cards, and throw dice? To squander money that belongs to other people?

To mortgage your property and to--to--to kill your brother?”

The last words burst from her impetuously, impulsively; then suddenly she paused, shocked by her own daring.

The silence that followed was short. With an equal impetuosity, a.s.shlin pushed back his chair and rose.

”By Gad, Clo, that's going too far!” he cried. ”I'll not hear my great-grandfather called a murderer.”

”All the same, he killed his brother.”

”In a duel. Gentlemen had to fight in those days.”

”Because of cards! Because they quarrelled over cards!”

Then, with a fresh change of expression, she appealed again to Milbanke.

”Do you think that's sport?” she asked. ”To get no good out of ordinary things? To get no pleasure out of dogs or horses except the pleasure of making them fight or race so that you can bet on the one you think best?”

She stopped breathlessly; and Milbanke, desperately at a loss, gazed from one angry, excited face to the other. But he was saved the trouble of finding an answer; for immediately Clodagh ceased to speak, a.s.shlin's loud laugh broke in again.

”Bravo!” he cried boisterously. ”All the eloquence and all the lack of logic of your s.e.x! But don't put those propositions to Milbanke; put them to yourself when you've reached his age. If you can't tell at fifty-five why poor human creatures play and kill and make fools of themselves, you'll have been a very lucky woman.”

For an instant his voice dropped, the despondency, the restless ennui that Milbanke had previously noticed falling like a brief shadow over his anger. But the lapse was brief. With another laugh and a shrug of the shoulders, he turned suddenly, and, crossing the room, opened the door.

”Burke!” he called loudly across the hall. ”Burke, bring more candles and another bottle of port--and the cards!”

At the words Clodagh rose.

”Father!” she exclaimed below her breath. Then her voice faltered. The involuntary note of protest and appeal was checked by some other emotion. With a swift movement she crossed the hearth, picked up her whip and cap, and, without another glance or word, walked out of the room, followed noiselessly by Nance.

a.s.shlin continued to stand by the door until the figures of his children had disappeared; then he turned back into the room.

”James,” he said suddenly, ”perhaps you don't think it, but one hair of that child's head is more precious to me than life. She's an a.s.shlin to the tips of her fingers. She's the whole race of us in one. The very way she repudiates us is proof enough for any man. I tell you the whole lot of us--lock, stock, and barrel--are looking at you out of her eyes.”

Again he paused; then again he shook off his pa.s.sing seriousness with nervous excitability, reseating himself at the table, as Burke entered.

”Ah, here we are!” he cried. ”Here we are! Come along, Burke, and show the light of heaven to us. Now, James, for any stakes you like--and at any game! What shall it be? Piquet? Or will we say Euchre, for the sake of the days that are dead and gone? Very well. Euchre let it be--for any stakes you like. It's the land of beggars, but, by Gad, you'll, find us game? Pa.s.s me your gla.s.s for another taste of port.”

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