He gathered odd bits of news of what was going on among the summer
colonists. The lady next to Killigrew, a Mrs. Wilberforce, had had a
strange adventure the night before. She and her maid had been
mysteriously overpowered by some strange fume, and later discovered
that her pearls were gone. She had notified the town police. This
brought the conversation around to the maharajah's emeralds. Hadn't he
and his attendants been overcome in the same manner? Thomas thought of
the sapphires. Since nobody knew he had them, he stood in no danger.
But there was Kitty's great fire-opal, glowing like a coal on her
breast, seeming to breathe as she breathed. It was almost as large as
a crown-piece.
During lulls Thomas dreamed. He was going to give himself until thirty
to make his fortune; and he was going to make it down there in the
wilds of South America. But invariably the sleepy mocking eyes of Lord
Monckton brought him back to earth, jarringly.
Once, Kitty caught Thomas gazing malevolently at Lord Monckton. No
love lost between them, evidently. It was the ancient story: to wager,
to borrow, to lend, to lose a friend.
Long after midnight Kitty awoke. She awoke hungry. So she put on her
slippers and peignoir and stole down-stairs. The grills on each side
of the entrance to the main hall were open; that is, the casement
windows were thrown back. She heard voices and naturally paused to
learn whose they were. She would have known them anywhere in the world.
"Tut, tut, Tommy; don't be a bally ass and lose your temper."
"Temper? Lose my temper? I'm not losing it, but I'm jolly well tired
of this rotten business."
"It was you who suggested the wager; I only accepted it."
"I know it."
"And once booked, no Englishman will welch, if he isn't a cad."
"I'm not thinking of welching. But I don't see what you get out of it."
"Sport. And a good hand at bridge."
"Remarkably good."
"I say, you don't mean to insinuate . . ."
"I'm not insinuating. I'm just damnably tired. Why the devil did you
take up that monocle business? You never wore one; and Miss Killigrew
found out this morning that it was an ordinary glass."
"She did?" Lord Monckton chuckled.
"And she laughed over it, too."
"Keen of her. But, what the devil! Stick a monocle in your eye, and
you don't need any letters of introduction. Lucky idea, your
telephoning me that you were here. What a frolic, all around!"
So that was why her coup had fallen flat? thought Kitty.
"I'll tell you this much," said Thomas. (Kitty heard him tap his pipe
against the veranda railing.) "Play fair or, by the lord, I'll smash
you! I'm going to stick to my end of the bargain, and see that you
walk straight with yours."