her for a check larger than you
would do if you confessed to him tomorrow morning. I only ask in return
that you, on your part, will give me your word of honor that you will
never touch a card again after you rise from the table."

"I cannot accept so generous an offer from a stranger," Cotter said in a
low tone.

"I do not think that it is generous," Mark replied quietly, "because I
am perfectly convinced that I shall not have to pay at all. Have you any
other IOUs out?"

"I have given them for about 5000 pounds, but that is not in addition
to the 29,000 pounds. Emerson told me that as he knew that I should have
difficulty in paying them at the present moment, he had taken them up,
and held them with his own."

"Will you give me the names of the persons to whom you gave them in the
first place?"

"Certainly;" and he mentioned three names, all of which stood with a
black cross against them on Mark's list.

"Thank you. Then you will go tomorrow night again?"

"Yes; and I swear to you that I will never touch a card afterwards."

"I don't think that you need fear," Mark said. "I have not been long in
London, but I happen to have been shown a good many of the tricks that
these blacklegs play on greenhorns, which will account for my having
noticed what has never been observed by the honest portion of the men
who frequent the place. Now I will say good night, sir. I shall be
behind your chair or his tomorrow night."

"I don't know what to say," Cotter said hesitatingly.

"There is no occasion to say anything; it is the duty of every honest
man to interfere if he sees another honest man being robbed, and that is
my sole object in this matter. Good night;" and turning round, he walked
rapidly away.

CHAPTER XIII.

The next morning, before going round to Gibbons', Mark saw his chief and
told him of what had taken place on the previous evening.

"I certainly did not think that you would succeed so soon; you believe
that you will be able fairly to expose these fellows?"

"I have no doubt whatever that I shall be able to expose one of them;
and I have equally no doubt that if the others are arrested, either
false cards or pockets for cards will be found upon them. What do you
wish me to do, sir? I can, of course, expose any fellow I catch at it,
but can do nothing about the others."

"I must have more than one captured," the chief said. "At even the most
irreproachable club there may be one blackleg, but