in the humour for it; so don't be
unkind!'

'But, Willy, why do you care for these things? Cards are harmless enough
in their way; but I don't like to see you carrying them in your pocket.
It isn't good for you.'

'It was by the merest chance I had them. Now come, just one hand, since
we are prisoners. I want to show you how nicely I can play. I won't
corrupt you!'

'Of course not,' said De Stancy, as if ashamed of what his objection
implied. 'You are not corrupt enough yourself to do that, I should
hope.'

The cards were dealt and they began to play--Captain De Stancy
abstractedly, and with his eyes mostly straying out of the window upon
the large yew, whose boughs as they moved were distorted by the old
green window-panes.

'It is better than doing nothing,' said Dare cheerfully, as the game
went on. 'I hope you don't dislike it?'

'Not if it pleases you,' said De Stancy listlessly.

'And the consecration of this place does not extend further than the
aisle wall.'

'Doesn't it?' said De Stancy, as he mechanically played out his cards.
'What became of that box of books I sent you with my last cheque?'

'Well, as I hadn't time to read them, and as I knew you would not like
them to be wasted, I sold them to a bloke who peruses them from morning
till night. Ah, now you have lost a fiver altogether--how queer! We'll
double the stakes. So, as I was saying, just at the time the books came
I got an inkling of this important business, and literature went to the
wall.'

'Important business--what?'

'The capture of this lady, to be sure.'

De Stancy sighed impatiently. 'I wish you were less calculating, and had
more of the impulse natural to your years!'

'Game--by Jove! You have lost again, captain. That makes--let me
see--nine pounds fifteen to square us.'

'I owe you that?' said De Stancy, startled. 'It is more than I have in
cash. I must write another cheque.'

'Never mind. Make it payable to yourself, and our connection will be
quite unsuspected.'

Captain De Stancy did as requested, and rose from his seat. Sir William,
though further off, was still in the churchyard.

'How can you hesitate for a moment about this girl?' said Dare, pointing
to the bent figure of the old man. 'Think of the satisfaction it would
be to him to see his son within the family walls again. It should be a
religion with you to compass such a legitimate end as this.'

'Well, well, I'll think of it,' said the captain, with an