Cleveland lifted the ends of the handkerchief, as if weighing its
contents; and then, without more scruple, flung into it a pile not
unlike it in bulk and quality: a handful of mixed gold paper, and
silver. Kingsley grasped the dice before him, and with a single
shake dashed them out upon the table.
"Six, four, two," cried Philip with a degree of excitement which
did not appear in either of the active opponents. Meanwhile my
heart was in my mouth. I looked on Kingsley with a sentiment of
wonder. Every muscle of his face was composed into the most quiet
indifference. He saw my glance, and smilingly exclaimed:-"I trust to my star, Clifford. Sans Souci--remember!"
No time was allowed for more. The moment was a breathless one.
Cleveland had taken up the dice. His manner was that of the most
singular deliberation. His eyes were cast down upon the table. His
lips strongly closed together; and now it was that I could see the
keen, piercing look which Kingsley addressed to every movement of
the gambler. I watched him also. He did not immediately throw the
dice, and I was conscious of some motion which he made with his
hands before he did so. What that motion was, however, I could
neither have said nor conceived. But I saw a grim smile, full of
intelligence, suddenly pass over Kingsley's lips. The dice descended
upon the table with a sound that absolutely made me tremble.
"Five, four, six!" cried Philip, loudly, with tones of evident
exultation. I felt a sense like that of suffocation, which was
unrelieved even by the seemingly unnatural laughter of my companion.
He did laugh, but in a manner to render less strange and unnatural
that in which he had before indulged. Even as he laughed he rose
and possessed himself of the dice which the other had thrown down.
"The stakes are mine," cried Cleveland, extending his hand toward
the handkerchief.
"No!" said Kingsley, with a voice of thunder, and as he spoke,
he handed me the kerchief of money, which I grasped instantly, and
thrust with some difficulty into my bosom. This was done instinctively;
I really had no thoughts of what I was doing. Had I thought at all
I should most probably have refused to receive it.
"How!" exclaimed Cleveland, his face becoming suddenly pale. "The
cast is mine--fifteen to twelve!"
"Ay, scoundrel, but the game I played for is mine! As for the
cast, you shall try another which you shall relish less. Do you
see these?"
He showed the dice which he had gathered from the table. The
gambler made an effort to snatch them from his hands.
"Try that again," said Kingsley, "and I lay this hickory over your
pate, in a way that shall be a warning to it for ever."