Page:The Black Moth.pdf/48

remember how the light caught the diamonds he was wearing. I think my brain was numbed. I could only repeat to myself: Extravagant Devil! Extravagant Devil!' and stare at those winking jewels. Then I thought: 'He is Lavinia's brother but I do not like him; I do not like him . . .'-little foolish things like that--and my throat was dry- parched. "He bent over the table . . . stretched out his white, white hand . . . turned over the ace . lifted his quizzing glass ... and stared down at the card. Then he dropped the glass and drew out his snuff-box. ... It had Aphrodite enamelled on the lid. I remember it so distinctly. I heard Tracy ask Milward to examine the ace. I wanted to spring up and strangle him... could scarce keep my hands still." Richard paused. He drew his hand across his eyes, shuddering. I And "Milward saw the scratch. He cried out that the cards were marked! Suddenly everyone seemed to be gathered about our table-all talking! Jack had his hand on my shoulder; he and Dare were running through the pack. But all the while I could look at no one but Tracy-Andover. He seemed so sinister, so threatening, in those black clothes of his. His eyes were almost shut-his face so white- he was looking at me! He seemed to be reading my very soul. . . . For an instant I thought he knew! I wanted to shout out that he was wrong! I wanted to shriek to him to take his eyes away! Heaven knows what I should have done! . . . but he looked away-at Jack, with that sneering smile on his damned mask of a face! I could have killed him for that smile! I think Jack understood it-he dropped the cards, staring at Tracy. "Everyone was watching them. no one looked at me. If they had they must surely have learnt the truth; but they were hanging on Andover's lips,