The Penn's Grove record., 1894-02-09
MR.. 'SR.

Pall Mall. away III Uue MUM Ouo
twilight was falling over brown moor
and purple hills; farther south the
shadows we're deepening over all the
fields. But in London no one thinks
Of twilight. One only finds that 1t is
time to light the gas. The gas was
lighted in the club smoking room,
and one or two men, lounging about
the room, nodded a "Good-eyening"
70 the newcomer.
"Who's that?" asked a membe 81
the Count passed by.
IA French Count, 1 believe" was
the answer. 'Phil O'Brien intro
duced him last night. Said he had
been civil to him somewhere abroad"
Such introductions, by a rule Of the
Pericles, held good Tor a week 10 the
case Of strangers visiting London, ans
made the visitor an honorary m'm'
Der of the club for that space III
lime.
The Count threw himself on one Of
the lounges, and called for some
brandy and soda. The waiter who
brought the grateful compound was a
Frenchman, Maxence by name. A
close observer might have noticed
that he gave the Count a keen glance
as he stood, with the tray in his hand
waiting to be paid. But the next
moment the servants face wore its
usual impassive, polite expression.
The Count hardly deigned to glance
at the waiter, as he tossed n or two
coins on the little table at his side.
After a time somebody proposed a
rubber of whist. There were only
four in the room, the London season
being very nearly at an end, and as q
matter of necessity, as well as polite
ness, the Count was asked to maze
one of the party. He was very ready
to do so, and in a few minutes the
four were seated around the green
covered table in a pleasant lutte room
upstairs. On cutting for partners,
the Count found himself paired with
u man named Grey-one of those
quiet, easy-golng fellows who lounge
through the world, saying little, and
generally knowing more than they
say. The other two were younger
men-Alfred Faverill, a man Of good
position, and commonly suppo ed to
be rolling in money, and a friend OF
Ills named Willoughby.
Whist went on for about an hour,
and then one or two Of the players
felt a desire for something more ex.
citing. Somebody proposed b~accarat,
and as some more members had by
this time entered the room, the sug-
-xa,Atnn mn of pnan anrnn1 IN SnOD
the stakes became pretty high, and
Grey gave up his place at the table
and stood behind, watching the others.
Supper was brought in about l O'Clock,
and, after it had been hastily dis.
cussed, play began in earnest.
Certainly luck seemed to favor the
Frenchman to a wonderful extent.
Grey, who occasionally laid a sover.
eign or two on the table, was sur.
prised at it. He kept a sharp look
put on the Counts movements, but
he could not, for all his vigilance, de.
tect any irregularity In the French.
mans play. Among the unlucEJ
gamesters was Faverill, who had
been losing pretty heavily during the
whole time De Parni acted as banker.
"Seven-flfty gone!" exclaimed that
young gentleman with an oath, after
reckoning up the amount Of his losses.
81 must make n more plunge.
Perhaps l may wipe out the odd $50"
Luck was against Faverill once
more, however. He lost ESQ, instead
of winning that sum.
eight huudredp' he exclaimed, -
must write you a check, Count"
He rang the bell for writing ma
terials, while the Comte de Parni
leaned back in his chair. He would
greatly have preferred cash to a check,
but, of course, he could not say so.
''Maxence, bring me a pen and ink,
aud call a hansom," he said, whep
the servant appeared.
Maxence did as he was told, and
the cab ratified up to the door Of the
club in the dim gray morning, while
Faverill wrote his check, and the
French servant hustled about the
room, putting the decanters on a tray
and sweeping away the cards.
eight hundred-there you are;
and l hope you will give my revenge
tomorrow night" said Faverill, as
he handed the check to the Count,
ifWith pleasure" replied De Parni
with a bow, as he slowed the bit OF
paper away in his pocketbook. Then
the club members made the best of
their wav home, while Maxence
locked the s~treet-dooT and turned of
the gas.
About half past 10 next morning, a
waiter knocked at the door Of the
Comte de Parni's bedroom at Ghe
empire Hotel.
"You scoundrel, you've walked mel'
ried the Frenchman with Just indig-
nation.
"Beg pardon, sir" saiG tie maj
DOLLY. 81 thought you must be up.
Gentleman been waiting to see you,
.ir, for the last half hour"
tWaiting to see me? Who Is it?'
The waiter came into the room and
landed the Count a card on which
vas printed in almost illegible old
English characters the name, "Alfred
N. Faverill."
'tOhl Ask him to wait. Sag I il bt
Town directly; and ask him II he will
ave any breakfast, said tho Count.
'Faverill," continued De Parni in his
thoughts, as the waiter left the room,
II hope he is not going to ask me to
Keep back his check for a few days.
seems rather like it, though. ]
thought he looked pale and a bit
haky when he signed it last night"
With these unpleasant p~rognostica.
lions in his mind, the Count hurried
v e his toilet and went down stairs.
As he opened the door of his sitting
DOM he called up a frank and cheer
Nl smile and held out his hand to
Welcome his visitor.
But his hand dropped. His smilt
,anished. This was not the man he
expected to see. His visitor was a
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