E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Mannister continued to regard his companion with an air of mild wonder.
"Have you taken leave of your senses, Rundermere?" he asked. "Do you realize that you are forty-four or forty-five years old, that your record is about as black as a decently born Englishman's can be, that you have never gone straight at any time in your life, even with women? ”

“ Miss Dunster, I will wish you good-evening. My mare is still fresh enough to manage a canter home, I think."
He raised his hat and passed on ahead. The girl looked after him admiringly.
"What a very handsome man your friend is, Mr. Rundermere," she said, "and how beautifully he rides! You did not seem particularly pleased to see him."
Rundermere stooped down and looked into her face.
"Do you suppose," he said softly, "that I should welcome any one under the circumstances?"
Mannister had the knack of making his bachelor quarters seem always attractive. ”

“ Mannister answered. "If I need fresh riding things, I can come up later and have them tried on. I am going round now to look at some horses."
"Who was the new man out on the big bay, Jack?" one of his intimates asked the master of the North Westshire hounds, as they rode home one evening.
"No idea," the Honourable Jack Dunster answered, "but he looks like a thundering good sort. I never saw a man sit a horse better, and he took his fences like a professional steeplechase rider. ”

“ I have never cared to learn it. Cards don't interest me much, except an occasional gamble. We hunt to-morrow, I suppose?"
"Quite close here," Rundermere answered. "Very good country, too. I should think we ought to have a good day."
"By-the-bye," Mannister asked, "is that young lady you were riding with Mr. Dunster's only daughter?"
Rundermere looked him in the face steadily.
"Yes!" he answered. "Why?"
"Nothing," Mannister answered calmly, "only I have seen you with her once or twice, yesterday and to-day. She's very pretty, but very young, isn't she?" ”

“ You realize these things, and yet you talk of being in earnest with a poor little child like this!"
Rundermere's dark face was black with passion.
"D—n you, Mannister!" he said. "You go too far. A man has to settle down some time, and many worse than I have done it. Your own record isn't altogether spotless, is it? ”

“ I have committed most crimes which are possible to a selfish man who loves his liberty, but I have never lied to a woman. Do you believe me?"
Her hands rested upon his very softly. It needed only a movement on his part to turn their touch into a caress. ”

“ In any case we are going quiet just now. No one seems to have any money, and there is nothing doing in the city. I dare say something will turn up a little later on that we can have a little plunge at. See you soon again, I hope," and Hambledon hurried off.
Mannister turned away with a smile, and going to his rooms, ordered his servant to pack his clothes.
"We are going down into the country, Morton," he said. "We may be away for two or three months. Very likely I shall hunt, so you had better go through my things and see what I want." ”

“ The five fingers are on the last five cards, or some are pushed together to make the code. It is as simple as ABC, Now watch. Your partner is playing a losing trick. It will be Rundermere's lead directly. Now watch Harrison's fingers."
Rundermere took the trick and hesitated. Harrison glanced through his cards, and one of his fingers moved slightly. His first finger was against the third card from the end in his hand.
"Rundermere will lead a diamond," Mannister whispered, and almost as he spoke Rundermere led a small card from that suit.
Dunster had the look of a man who had seen a ghost. ”

“ I will smoke if I may, and look at the Field."
The Honourable Jack, having done his duty towards his guest, was much too interested in the game to think further about him for the present. He and Lord Lashmore were once more partners against Rundermere and Harrison, and the fortunes of the game seemed still inclined toward the visitors. Mannister read an article in the Field carefully through, word by word, before he raised his eyes. During that time Rundermere had three times turned round in his chair to watch him, and noted the fact that he was apparently absorbed in his paper. ”