.  "Good-night--morning, or whatever
it is.  Can I let myself out?"

"The man is there," said Lacey, coldly.

But Jerry did not remain there, to wait just outside, but made his way
quickly back into the lobby, where he stood, ready to hand Mark his
large Inverness cloak and hat, and then open the door.

"Looks as if he were going to be hanged," muttered Jerry very sourly, as
he stood watching the young officer descend in the grey morning light.
"Wonder how much he has won, and whether it makes him feel better?  I
know one thing: it makes me feel a deal worse, and as if I should like
to pitch him over the banisters.  I 'ate that chap--that's what's the
matter with me--and I'd tell him so to his face as soon as look at him,
that I would!"

Jerry closed the door and went across the lobby, hearing the heavy pace
of his master as he walked restlessly up and down the room.

"The scoundrel!"  Lacey muttered.  "He is a scoundrel, and I'm a fool--a
pigeon, and he has plucked me.  I swear he cheated.  He played that very
trick I was once warned about.  Serve me right!  But it's the last
time."

He continued his hurried pace, growing sterner and more decisive as he
walked.

"A lesson to me!" he muttered.  "A dishonourable scoundrel!  At Miss
Deane's, too!  I swear he has been trying to oust me, and the old lady
has encouraged him.  Anna told me of his words to her.  One can't call a
man out now; and if I spread it abroad about the cards there'll be no
end of a row, and he'd be indignant.  No, I won't speak.  It's a lesson
to me for being such an easy-going fool."

He turned thoughtful now, but was ready to look up sharply as Jerry
entered.

"Want me any more 'smornin', sir?"

"No, Brigley, no.  You have heard no more news of poor Smithson?"

"No, sir, not a word."

"Strange how I have been thinking of him all the night."

"So have I, sir.  I went to sleep, too, out in the lobby, and I've just
recollected, sir, I was dreaming all about him and wondering where he'd
gone."

"Ah, it's a bad business, Brigley.  He ought to have 