npleasantly on Richard's ear.

"I will gladly take the bank," said Segrave eagerly.

"Pardi! I care not who hath the bank," quoth Lord Walterton, with the
slow emphasis of the inebriated. "My system takes time to work.... And I
stand to lose a good deal unless ... hic ... unless I win!"

"You are not where you were, when you began," commented Sir Michael
grimly.

"By Gad, no! ... hic ... but 'tis no matter.... Give me time!"

"Methought I saw Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse just now," said Endicott,
looking about him. "Ah! and here comes our worthy baronet," he added
cheerily as Sir Marmaduke's closely cropped head--very noticeable in the
crowd of periwigs--emerged from amidst the group that clustered round
Mistress Endicott. "A hand at primero, sir?"

"I thank you, no!" replied Sir Marmaduke, striving to master his
habitual ill-humor and to speak pleasantly. "My luck hath long since
deserted me, if it e'er visited me at all. A fact of which I grow daily
more doubtful."

"But ventre-saint-gris!" ejaculated Lord Walterton, who showed an
inclination to become quarrelsome in his cups, "we must have someone to
take Endicott's place, I cannot work my system hic ... if so few
play...."

"Perhaps your young friend, Sir Marmaduke ..." suggested Mistress
Endicott, waving an embroidered handkerchief in the direction of Richard
Lambert.

"No doubt! no doubt!" rejoined Sir Marmaduke, turning with kindly
graciousness to his secretary. "Master Lambert, these gentlemen are
requiring another hand for their game ... I pray you join in with
them...."

"I would do so with pleasure, sir," replied Lambert, still unsuspecting,
"but I fear me I am a complete novice at cards.... What is the game?"

He was vaguely distrustful of cards, for he had oft heard this pastime
condemned as ungodly by those with whom he had held converse in his
early youth, nevertheless it did not occur to him that there might be
anything wrong in a game which was countenanced by Sir Marmaduke de
Chavasse, whom he knew to be an avowed Puritan, and by the saintly lady
who had been the friend of ex-Queen Henrietta Maria.

"'Tis a simple round game," said Sir Marmaduke lightly, "you would soon
learn."

"And ..." said Lambert diffidently questioning, and eying the gold and
silver which lay in profusion on the table, "there is no money at stake
... of course? ..."

"Oh! only a little," rejoined Mistress Endicott, "a paltry trifle ...
to add zest to the enjoyment