Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

Pe ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 261 re ens ss wealh and fortune, he has become devoted to p ay.” “A gambler |” _ “Yes; the seeds of this vice are now implanted in his heart, which brings in its train poverty, dis- grace, and crime; his resort 1s ever the gaming house, where he has lost to me in the last four months half his estate.” “Can this be possible? I can scarcely credit what I hear.” ‘Tis true, nevertheless,” said Sir Maurice, super- ciliously ; ‘‘but your good fortune and mine does not end here,”’ “T see; you are not content with what you have won already ?” ‘No; I am determined my vengeance shall be ample and complete. You see these dice ?” As he spoke Sir Maurice Lacy produced two cubes, apparently composed of solid ivory. ; “These dice,” he resumed, “are loaded; one single throw and Roving Jack is left without a penny.” “What a scoundrel!” ejaculated Sir Ranulph Gayton, in an underbreath, and with difficulty concealing his contempt. “You don’t seem satisfied,” replied Sir Maurice, who had noticed the reserve of his companion. “T am perfectly so,” stammered out Sir Ranulph, assuming the usual composure; “I should be very ungrateful if I were otherwise, as you have dis- covered the time to me when I can subdue the a Vas “You know the old adage, ‘ When poverty peeps in at the door, love escapes by the window.’ ” “T read comfort in your words, Sir Maurice. Violet Tremaine will yet be mine,” ‘“T’ll do the best to make her so,” replied the villanous baronet, as he was about to replace the loaded dice ; “and if I succeed not, may these false instruments be buried in my determined heart as firmly as I now grasp them in my determined hand.” “That is a strange wish,” muttered Sir Ranulph, to himself ; ‘‘ but stranger still should such a wish be gratified ; an unaccountable anxiety, a painful presentiment, weighs on my spirits, and stifles the joy that should spring up in my heart.” _“So late! I have an appointment with my dupe,” said Sir Maurice Lacy, looking at his watch, “Tf so,” replied his companion, ‘‘ I will bear you company; a scheme has just entered my head that may serve us materially in our project. We will talk the matter over on our road,” - The two gallants were taking their departure as Poll Maggot crossed over to them, She curtsied lowly, and, with bewitching sim- plicity, accosted them, with what intention may be guessed from the following dialogue. € Good day, good sirs,’”’ said the Amazonian beauty ; “it cuts me sadly to separate, but haply you have about you some slight token of remembrance, some trifle of consolation for your absence,” While she was yet speaking she eyed archly a silver snuff-box from which one of the gentlemen was taking snuff, “That’s a neat box, Sir Maurice,” she observed, with seeming disinterestedness. Pray accept it,” he replied, for what other could a man do placed in such a perplexing situation ? “That would be robbing you,” said the sly en- chantress, at the same time taking care to secure the present, and place it safely in her pocket. ‘‘Hayvye you no word for me, Polly?” chimed in Sir Ranulph Gayton, pressing her hand in his own. “T shall be jealous of my friend if he occupies all your smiles,” The speaker paid somewhat dearly for his com- plaisance, His fervent grasp had betrayed the brilliant that adorned his finger. We need not say who became the subsequent possessor of the same, The ring fitted Poll Maggot marvellously well. sue did the donor the honour to wear it for his sake, Sir Ranulph Gayton and Sir Maurice Lacy were followed from the “Devil’s Punch-Bowl” by a third and unseen party. Who and what he was the reader will learn in due time. CHAPTER CXVI. A NIGHT AT D’OSYNDARS—DEEDS IN THE DARK. You would have seen on a certain stormy night, in a solitary house in the neighbourhood of the metro- polis, a man in the prime of youth deeply engaged over a pack of cards. The broad and lofty chamber in which he was seated was lighted by two candles. These being burnt to their sockets showed how deeply he had been interested in his ardent occu- pation, He followed with anxious looks his hazardous manipulation. Ever and anon he suddenly stopped, as if to an- ticipate some unknown secret. Full of despair, and violently agitated, he had ~ continued for hours to deal and play with the cards before him, At length, having accomplished his apparent object, flushed, nervous and powerfully excited, he exclaimed with enthusiasm, “T have discovered it !” Again and again he applied to his cards, and again and again with similar success. “Yes,” he joyfully continued, “nine, ten, knavye, ace; that’s it. The calculation proves perfectly correct, I have at length reduced it to a certainty. It is a manceuvre that might recover all—all that I have lost.” There was a pause—a hesitation, ‘But, what says honour!” exclaimed the game- ster ; ‘‘I dare not think, for, if I succeed not, I am irretrievably ruined. Let me, for the last time, try tlie experiment,” As the cards were being shuffled by Roving Jack— for the reader has no doubt recognised in the above individual our hero—the voice of Violet Tremaine was heard in the lawn beneath him. “ Violet’s voice!” he cried; ‘“‘then it must be morning.” As he undrew the curtain of his chamber window the golden beams of dawn woke him to remorse, Yes, it was broad, sunny, daylight. All the long night he had not slept. Over the talismanic tablets he had forgot the repo3e due to nature. Fatal infatuation ! Soon there was a tap on the outside of the door, and a well-known and beloved name pronounced, ‘‘ Yes, Violet, tarry an instant while I put away the books,” ; Thus saying, our hero thrust the cards with which he had been playing into a table drawer. While doing this he observed, “She must not perceive the nature of my nocturnal studies—studies that give paleness to the cheek, anguish to the heart,” eonnicloooksS.c@