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"But you've not answered!" reminded Fortescue from another table. Hedealt the cards round expertly. "Is it hands off, perhaps?"
"Certainly," replied his Grace. "It generally is, Frank, as you know."
"To my cost!" was the laughing rejoinder, and Fortescue rubbed his swordarm as if in memory of some hurt. "You pinked me finely, Tracy!"
"Clumsily, Frank, clumsily. It might have been quicker done."
The Viscount, who had been a second at the meeting, tittered amiably.
"Neatetht thing I ever thaw, 'pon my honour. All over in leth than aminute, Avon! Give you my word!"
"Never knew you had fought Devil, Frank? What possessed you?"
"I was more mad than usual, I suppose," replied Fortescue in his low,rather dreamy voice, "and I interfered between Tracy and his Frenchsinger. He objected most politely, and we fought it out in Hyde Park."
"Gad, yes!" exclaimed his partner, Lord Falmouth. "Why, I was Devil'ssecond! But it was ages ago!"
"Two years," nodded Fortescue, "but I have not forgotten, you see!"
"Lord, I had! And 'twas the funniest fight I ever saw, with you asfurious as could be and Devil cool as a cucumber. You were never much ofa swordsman, Frank, but that morning you thrust so wildly that stap meif I didn't think Devil would run you through. 'Stead of that he pinksyou neatly through the sword-arm, and damme if you didn't burst outlaughing fit to split! And then we all walked off to breakfast with you,Frank, as jolly as sandboys. Heavens, yes. That was a fight!"
"It was amusing," admitted Tracy at Fortescue's elbow. "Don't play,Frank."
Fortescue flung his cards face downwards on the table. "Curse you,Tracy, you've brought bad luck!" he said entirely without rancour. "Ihad quite tolerable hands before you came."
"Belmanoir, I will thtake my chestnut mare 'gaintht your new grey,"lisped the Viscount, coming up to the table, dice-box in hand.
"Stap me, but that is too bad!" cried Wilding. "Don't take him, Devil!Have you seen the brute?"
The four players had finished their card-playing and were quite readyfor the dice.
"Trust in your luck, Belmanoir, and take him!" advised Pritchard, wholoved hazarding other men's possessions, but kept a tight hold on hisown.
"Ay, take him!" echoed Falmouth.
"Don't," said Fortescue.
"Of course I shall take him," answered his Grace tranquilly. "My greyagainst your chestnut and the best of three. Will you throw?"
The Viscount rattled his box with a flourish. Two threes and a oneturned up.
With a hand on Fortescue's shoulder, and one
foot on the rung of hischair, Tracy leaned forward and cast his own dice on to the table. Hehad beaten the Viscount's throw by five. The next toss Fotheringham won,but the last fell to his Grace.
"Damnathion!" said the Viscount cheerfully. "Will you thtake your greyagaintht my Terror?"
"Thunder and turf, Fotheringham! You'll lose him!" cried Nettlefoldwarningly. "Don't stake the Terror!"
"Nonthenth! Do you take me, Belmanoir?"
"Certainly," said the Duke, and threw.
"Oh, an you are in a gaming mood, I will play you for the right to trymy hand with the dark beauty!" called Markham across the room.
"Against what?" asked Fortescue.
"Oh, what he wills!"
