walked over close to the nobleman and looked him straight in the
eyes, as he spoke with unusual meaning vibrant in his voice.

"Your Excellency, your sympathy, your offer, and your advice are all
declined, without thanks.... I once saw a gambler lay down four
aces,--just think of it, four fat aces. He looked the dealer straight
in the eye, as I am doing now with you. Then he said, 'The play ain't
natural.'... Now, you have tried to have me arrested on the steamer,
then you tipped off Scotland Yard and, for all I know, the Paris
police, too. You have tried to block me every way you could, and you're
a regular little prize blocker. Suddenly you express the utmost anxiety
as to what's going to happen to me in the castle. You generously offer
to buy me off. You advise me, with tears in your eyes, to stay away and
save my life. Shall I take the bait--hook, line, and sinker? Duke, 'the
play ain't natural'!"

The nobleman clenched his fists in anger.

"You have intruded into a matter which you neither understand nor
appreciate. If, as you say, the play seems unnatural, then throw down
your cards and stay out of the game."

"Oh, no, no, no!" and Jarvis' voice again had that provokingly teasing
tone in it. "I'll just stay right in the game and play my hand out--and
watch every deal."

He turned toward Rusty.

"Come along, and let's see if we can find the landlord. We'll have a
look at our rooms," he said. "Hurry, Rusty--don't go to sleep--the
bedrooms are upstairs."

Rusty was very thoughtful as he picked up the bags and began to follow.
The Duke watched the two with sidelong glances. Both characters were
mysteries to him--so different, nonchalant, and unaffected by this
serious task. Europeans would have taken the case at least with greater
seriousness.

"What's the matter with you, Rusty? In love?"

The negro was lost in a deep study, as he sniffed the air in a
thoughtful, absent-minded fashion.

"Marse Warren, I'd like to find a piece of chicken!"

"Great Scott! What put that into your head?"

"Oh, lawsee, Marse Warren, I'se powerful hungry! It ain't human to be
so hungry!"

"What--again?"

"No, sir; it's de same old hunger. No matter how fast de train go I
jes' cain't leave it behin'. Oh my, if I on'y had some po'k chops an' a
little real gin!"

Jarvis started on toward the steps.

"Well, you come on now, Rusty--you don't eat a thing until we finish
this job."

Rusty shook his head despairingly.

"G