The latter set his teeth.

It was very cunningly done to trap him.

If he said the cards were straight they might be examined afterward; and, if he were discovered in a lie, it would mean more than the loss of McKeever--it would mean the ruin of everything.

Did he dare take the chance?
Must he give up McKeever?
The work of years of careful education had been squandered on McKeever.
Fernand looked up, and his eyes rested on the calm face of Ronicky Doone.

Why had he never met a man like that before?
There was an assistant! There was a fellow with steel-cold nerve--worth a thousand trained McKeevers! Then he glanced at the wounded man, cowering and bunched in his chair.