The struggle was brief, for the vehemence of his enmity, triumphant, the hope of immediate emolument was sacrificed, and the rooking of the young man postponed to some future occasion.

Then, subtly concealing his purpose, he nodded an ambiguous acceptance.
Cards were ordered.

A steward fetched them and awaited further commands.
Lord Huntingford strangely distrait, it seemed to Hugh, considering the amount at stake, shuffled the pack and offered them for the cut.

This conventional operation performed and his Lordship successful, he dealt the hands, at the same time giving the steward a sharp order to leave.
The man's reception of his dismissal was so insolent that it attracted Hugh's attention.

Looking up, to his surprise, he recognized his room steward.
"With whom have I the pleasure of playing ?" came suddenly from Lord Huntingford.
"Ridgeway, Hugh--" Quick as the thought in the mind preceding it, inevitably connected, the name escaped unwittingly from his lips; for with the discovery of the steward's identity there flashed like a bolt from the blue an appalling recollection! Exposed to view on the table in his stateroom were valuable documents addressed to him by his banker, which he had forgotten to replace in his dispatch-box! "Eh?
What's that?
What name ?" The interrogation, icily formal, told nothing; but upon its answer hinged limitless consequences.
Hugh was in a dilemma.