Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 11 Fe Still, everything was to all outward appearance so fair, and above-board with him, his conversation so pleasant and amusing, and his manner so well-bred, that no one qnestioned the fairness of his play. ““ He has the devil’s own luck.” That was the general opinion openly expressed. _ The count showed his white teeth beneath his jetty moustache, and appeared to consider it as a compli- ment. He played on—and won. While the more eager of the gamblers were waiting with outward calmness, but with inward anxiety,to see the fate of a larger stake than usual, a cry arose from the side table. a3 D— — you, sir, leave go! my hand ?” | The words were spoken in a fierce angry tone. The speaker was Captain Roper. ‘ So loud and ferocious was the tone that every one turned on the instant. : The pile of gold on the rouge et noir table was left, and the players all flocked to tlie further side of the room. A small table was overturned on the floor. Cards, sovereigns, and broken champagne glasses lay scattered about. , Captain Roper was held firmly in his chair by Sir Harold King, his face crimson with passion. The baronet’s grasp was on his collar, while his other hand clutched tightly the wrist of his opponent. ** What is the meaning of this, Sir Harold ?” asked the count, his clear ringing voice sounding above the tumult. : “The meaning is this, count—we have amongst us a swindler and a rogue.”’ Sir Harold spoke with perfect calmness, and showed no unwonted excitement. It was plain to all that he was acting from convic- tion, The captain, as he heard these words, struggled vainly to free himself from his opponent’s grasp. _“ Tt is a grave charge you bring, Sir Harold,” said the count; ‘and one which you must prove, or take the consequences.”’ . “Listen to me, gentlemen,’’ said Sir Harold; ‘1 have been playing écarté with this man; I suspected him, and watched. At last I caught him in the act of concealing a card in the hand which I now grasp. If in that hand you do not finda card hidden, I can only say I regret my violence.”’ **Regret your violence? Do you think that will suffice? I will have full revenge for this insult. Un- hand me! and I will convince you all of my in- nocence,”’ ‘ “Watch, gentlemen, for a proof of his roguery.” As he spoke the young baronet loosed his hold. The captain turned an empty palm to them all! There was no card concealed! Sir Harold King staggered back aghast. He was positive he had not been mistaken, and could only attribute the failure of the proof to some jugglery on the part of his opponent. “‘Sir Harold,” said the count gravely, ‘‘ there appears to be no foundation for your accusation ; you must answer for this strange disturbance.” “Answer! by Heaven he shall answer!’ cried Captain Roper, starting to his feet; ‘‘ay, and on the spot !”’ P With a hasty hand he snatehed a couple of rapiers from the collection of small arms hanging against the wall. With a curse, he threw one of them towards the youn baronet, and, almost before Sir Harold had picked it up, made a rapid pass at him, which threatened to put an end to his existence. In an instant swords were crossed, and in a few How dare you seize seconds Captain Roper’s weapon was struck from his hand by Sir Harold. It flew whirling across the room. The baronet lowered his point. “Curse it! there can be no deception in these,”’ yelled the infuriated disarmed man. ; So saying he seized one of the reyolvers. about which he had been conversing with the count, and, before any one could guess his intention, aimed and fired at the baronet. The hammer fell with a faint click. o report followed. The pistol had missed fire! With a groan of disgust, all present rushed upon him. The count was first, . He seized him roughly, and in so doing tore epen his waistcoat. As he did so a crumpled card fell to the ground. ‘‘ The card he concealed !” cried Sir Harold King. So it was; Captain Roper was but a blackleg and a swindler, and, worse than being either in the eyes of the world, he was detected. \ He could no longer brazen it out. He turned ashy pale. His limbs shook beneath him, ‘““' Mercy, mercy! ” he found breath to gasp. “‘ What is to be done with him? ”’ asked the count, ““ Drop him out of the window.”’ “** Horsewhip him within an inch of his life.” ‘Make him eat a pack of cards.”’ ‘‘Hang him upto the first Jamp-post and pop at him with the revolver.”’ These were some of the suggestions made by the count’s visitors, “Captain Roper,’”’ said the count; ‘‘you stand here a convicted swindler, blackleg, and rogue, These gentlemen will, I am assured, agree with me when I say, if one of us catches sight of you on any racecourse in England, he will consider it his duty to horsewhip you off it. Now be off, and remember.”’ The detected swindler, cowed and exposed, cringed before the count. = When he heard the light verdict, and felt his late host’s hold removed from his collar, he rose and slunk away to the door like a beaten puppy. Arrived at the door he turned and cast a look of hate around. ** Curse you all,”’ he cried; ‘‘I’ll be even with you yet. If I go to the world’s end for it, I will have my revenge for this night’s work. You, Count Lerno, may recollect what I say one day when your tricks are brought to light.”’ ** Seoundrel!” yelled the count; his white teeth showing like those of a savage beast. With one bound he was upon him. With one twist.of his muscular arm he hurled him back into the room, and, taking a heavy hunting- whip from the wall, administered a very severe beat- ing to the detected one, who by neither sign nor word showed that he felt the pain or the degradation to which he was forced to submit. Released from the other’s hands, however, he crawled away, scowling evilly at the assembled com- pany, turning only once to look back with a deadly white face, qniyering lips, and heavy bloodshot eyes full of hellish passion. As he turned his mouth moved slightly, as though he was breathing curses or muttering threats against his late antagonists, but no word escaped him, and he passed away from the sight of the assembled com- pany in a death-like silence. For some moments after the swindler’s departure the count’s guests stood silent and motionless, and then there’was a general movement made in the direction of the door. - Oo COMMiclooo S CO