Year: 1869

that. lie has given up whist with his olt
set, and has gone among the very wors
lot in the club-fellows no one knows kov
some of whom live, or how they got into
the club; while others are light enough
but bet tremendously on the turf III
plays whist with this lot, and it is mo-
known what points they play, for they
don't pay down-make note, you know
and I heard it whispered too, but very
likely it is lie, that he has been going in
at ecarte with turfman called Captain
johnson, though where he got his rank
from no one knows; Turkish service, o,
Danubian Principalities, or something OF
that sort, / fancy; anyhow, he's man
would not play ecarte with for sixpence-
He's cleaned two or three fellows out al.
ready"


1t may be imagined how much alarmed
| was by my friend Charley's information,
and more so that it was a case in which
was, Of course, helpless to act. My only
satisfaction was that l was getting on
pretty rapidly in my profession, and could
hope ere long to have a home-a humble
one certainly, but still homs-to offer
Margery and this infatuated old father of
hers. Nerved by this, l read harder than
ever, and had been fortnight without
going to the Lawsons', when one day re-
ceived note from Margery:


"MY DEAR HARRY II want very much
to see you, and to ask your advice; will
you be at the end Of the Long Water in
kensington Gardens at twelve o'clock
cannot think of any other place of meet
ting you, and you may be sure l want
to see you upon very important matter,
or | should never have taken such step
as this. Your own


MARGERY."


So Margery has come to know of what
was going on and indeed matters must
have come to very serious point, for /
had no doubt that this was the cause of
her writing.


1t turned out as had supposed. Mar
gerry was looking pale and worn, and told
me that she did not know that she was not
foolishly frightening herself, but that she
was terribly anxious about her father;
that he always had been in the habit of
returning home at twelve o'clock, or half
past OF the latest, but that now he was
frequently not back until three; that he
looked very pale and i'll, and was evident
ly anxious and nervous. But the wors,
point of all was, that he frequently came
home early with gentleman she had new.
er seen before, and whom she did not like
and had played at ecarte until two O'Clock
in the msrning; that upon these occasion.
her father had evidently disliked her
watching them, and had appeared re-
lieved when she had offered to 20 up to
her room early; that they did not seem tt
play for anything, but that they wrot,
down in their notebooks figures after each
game and that she could not but think
that it was something very serious.
could give but little comfort to poo,
Margery indeed, l put rather the worst
face upon matters in order to persuade her
to consent to the plan had formed as l
had walked towards our rendezvous. This
plan | at length unfolded.


"My dear Margery, have been think,
ing over this matter as came along, for I
had heard something of it before, and
guessed when l received your letter what
you had to say to me. This man with
whom your father is playing is, from what
l have heard, a very doubtful character.
Now, of course, if he plays fair, and your
father chooses to play with him, it is i'm.
possible to interfere, whatever the stakes
may be; it is no concern of any one but
himself. The only question is, does he
play fair? When l was boy, was con
stantly practising tricks with cards, and
am quite sure that l could cheat any un
suspecting person. In the same way
from knowing how these things are done,
could detect man who did not play fair
and my idea is that if / can but watch
him, without his sus tecting me, might
be able to find out if the man is playing
fair with Mr.. Lawson. IF he is not,
will expose him; if he is, and your faith
er, with whose unfortunate infatuation for
play l cannot of course interfere, loses
everything he has, he must come and live
with his son-in-law. Eh, Margery


Margery looked up smiling between her
tears, and then avoiding the subject,
said


"He has not been for two nights, Har.
ry; should think be would come to.
night" 8


"What time does he come, Margery r.


"At about half'past nine. Papa gener-
ally dimes at the club, and comes down
with him. What are you thinking Of
doing, Harry?"


"You may rely upon me, Margery, not
to get you into any scrape with your father.
! will drop in this evening as if by acci-
dent, and will bring my friend Charley
Hackett with me. Your father has, you
know, given me permission to introduce
any of my friends. OF course he won't
like it; but l sha'n't mind his looking
sour, and we will chat with you, and ap-
pear to pay no attention to the game.
Take such position that by sitting beside
you can be nearly opposite to this Cap
tain johnson; not quite opposite, but SO
that l can watch him when he deals. II
he plays unfairly, l am certain that can
detect him. Good bye, dear; keep up
your spirits it may turn out for the best
after all.