Max marked a hundred, Kenneth was only thirty-three.

"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "I didn't know you could play like that."

"I often have a game with my father," said Max. "He always gives me
fifty out of a hundred, and he can beat me, but he lets me win
sometimes."

Kenneth whistled.

"I say," he said, "your father must be a very clever man."

"Yes," said Max, in a dull, quiet way, "I think he is very clever."

"You don't seem very much pleased about it."

"I'm afraid I'm very tired. It has been such a hard day."

"Hard! that's nothing. You wait till your legs get trained, you won't
think this a hard day."

"I'm afraid I shan't be down here long enough for that."

"Oh, you don't know. Let's have another game, and see if I can't beat
you this time. Only, mind, none of your father's tricks."

Max started and turned scarlet.

"I mean, you will try."

"Of course," said Max; "I don't think it would be fair not to try one's
best."

They played, and Kenneth came off worse.

They played again, and he was worse still; while, after the fourth game,
he threw down his cue pettishly.

"It's of no use for me to play you. Why, you're a regular
out-and-outer."

"Nonsense! These strokes are easy enough. Let me show you. Look at
the things you can do that I can't."

"You show me how to make those strokes, and I'll show you everything I
know."

"I'll show you without making you promise that," said Max
good-humouredly; and the rest of the evening was spent over the board,
which they only quitted to say "good-night" and retire to their rooms;
but Kenneth did not go to his until he had been to the butler's pantry,
and then to the kitchen, which was empty, the servants having retired
for the night, after banking up the fire with peat, which would go on
smouldering and glowing for the rest of the night, and only want
stirring in the morning to burst into a blaze.

There was something very suspicious in Kenneth's movements as he crossed
the kitchen in the faint glow, and a great tom-cat glowered at him as he
stole away to the fireside and watched.

At one moment it seemed as if Kenneth was going to the larder to make a
raid upon the provisions, but he stopped short of that door, and stood
listening, and started violently as a sudden sound smote his ear.

It was the start of one troubled with a guilty conscience, for the sound
was only a sharp tack made by the great clock, preliminary to its
striking eleve