The Nest of the Sparrowhawk: A Romance of the XVIIth Century

by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Orczy

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE TRAP

  Richard Lambert fortunately for his own peace of mind and the retentionof his dignity, was able to wave aside the hand full of gold and silvercoins which Sir Marmaduke extended towards him.

  "I thank you, sir," he said calmly; "I am able to bear the cost of mineown unavoidable weakness. I have money of mine own."

  From out his doublet he took a tiny leather wallet containing a few goldcoins, his worldly all bequeathed to him the same as to his brother--sothe old friend who had brought the lads up had oft explained--by hisgrandmother. The little satchel never left his person from the momentthat the old Quakeress had placed it in his hands. There were but fiveguineas in all, to which he had added from time to time the fewshillings which Sir Marmaduke paid him as salary.

  He chided his own weakness inwardly, when he felt the hot tears surgingto his eyes at thought of the unworthy use to which his little hoard wasabout to be put.

  But he walked to the table with a bold step; there was nothing now ofthe country lout about him; on the contrary, he moved with remarkabledignity, and bore himself so well that many a pair of feminine eyeswatched him kindly, as he took his seat at the baize-covered table.

  "Will one of you gentlemen teach me the game?" he asked simply.

  It was remarkable that no one sneered at him again, and in these days ofarrogance peculiar to the upper classes this was all the morenoticeable, as these secret clubs were thought to be very exclusive, theresort pre-eminently of gentlemen and noblemen who were anti-Puritan,anti-Republican, and very jealous of their ranks and privileges.

  Yet when after those few unpleasant moments of hesitation Lambert boldlyaccepted the situation and with much simple dignity took his seat at thetable, everyone immediately accepted him as an equal, nor did anyonequestion his right to sit there on terms of equality with Lord Waltertonor Sir Michael Isherwood.

  His own state of mind was very remarkable at the moment.

  Of course he disapproved of what he did: he would not have been thePuritanically trained, country-bred lad that he was, if he had acceptedwith an easy conscience the idea of tossing about money from hand tohand, money that he could in no sense afford to lose, or money that noone was making any honest effort to win.

  He knew--somewhat vaguely perhaps, yet with some degree ofcertainty--that gambling was an illicit pastime, and that thereforehe--by sitting at this table with these gentlemen, was deliberatelycontravening the laws of his country.

  Against all that, it is necessary to note that Richard Lambert took twomatters very much in earnest: first, his position as a paid dependent;second, his gratitude to Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse.

  And both these all-pervading facts combined to force him against hiswill into this anomalous position of gentlemanly gambler, which suitedneither his temperament nor his principles.

  With it all Lambert's was one of those dispositions, often peculiar tothose who have led an isolated and introspective life, which never doanything half-heartedly; and just as he took his somewhat emptysecretarial duties seriously, so did he look on this self-imposed task,against which his better judgment rebelled, with earnestness anddetermination.

  He listened attentively to the preliminary explanations given him sottovoce by Endicott. Segrave in the meanwhile had taken the latter's placeat the head of the table. He had put all his money in front of him, sometwo hundred and sixty pounds all told, for his winnings during the lasthalf hour had not been as steady as heretofore, and he had not yetsucceeded altogether in making up that sum of money for which he yearnedwith all the intensity of a disturbed conscience, eager to redeem onemiserable fault by another hardly more avowable.

  He shuffled the cards and dealt just as Endicott had done.

  "Now will you look at your card, young sir," said Endicott, who stoodbehind Lambert's chair, whispering directions in his ear. "A splendidcard, begad! and one on which you must stake freely.... Nay! nay! thatis not enough," he added, hurriedly restraining the young man's hand,who had timidly pushed a few silver coins forward. "'Tis thus you mustdo!"

  And before Lambert had time to protest the rotund man in the cinnamondoublet and the wide lace cuffs, had emptied the contents of the littleleather wallet upon the table.

  Five golden guineas rested on Lambert's card. Segrave turned up his ownand declared:

  "I pay queen and upwards!"

  "A two, by gad!" said Lord Walterton, too confused in his feeble headnow to display any real fury. "Did anyone ever see such accursed luck?"

  "And look at this nine," quoth Sir Michael, who had become very sullen;"not a card to-night!"

  "I have a king," said Lambert quietly.

  "And as I had the pleasure to remark before, my dear young friend," saidEndicott blandly, "'tis a mighty good card to hold.... And see," hecontinued, as Segrave without comment added five more golden guineas toLambert's little hoard, "see how wise it was to stake a goodly sum ...That is the whole art of the game of primero ... to know just what tostake on each card in accordance with its value and the law ofaverages.... But you will learn in time, young man you will learn...."

  "The game doth not appear to be vastly complicated," assented Lambertlightly.

  "I have played primero on a system for years ..." quoth Lord Waltertonsententiously, "but to-night ... hic ... by Gad! ... I cannot make thesystem work right ... hic!"

  But already Segrave was dealing again. Lambert staked more coolly now.In his mind he had already set aside the original five guineas whichcame from his grandmother. With strange ease and through no merit of hisown, yet perfectly straightforwardly and honestly, he had become theowner of another five; these he felt more justified in risking on thehazard of the game.

  But the goddess of Fortune smiling benignly on this country-bred lad,had in a wayward mood apparently taken him under her special protection.He staked and won again, and then again pleased at his success ... inspite of himself feeling the subtle poison of excitement creeping intohis veins ... yet remaining perfectly calm outwardly the while.

  Segrave, on the other hand, was losing in exact proportion to thenewcomer's winnings: already his pile of gold had perceptiblydiminished, whilst the hectic flush on his cheeks became more and moreaccentuated, the glitter in his eyes more unnatural and feverish, hishands as they shuffled and dealt the cards more trembling and febrile.

  "'Pon my honor," quoth Sir Marmaduke, throwing a careless glance at thetable, "meseems you are in luck, my good Lambert. Doubtless, you are notsorry now that you allowed yourself to be persuaded."

  "'Tis not unpleasant to win," rejoined Lambert lightly, "but believe me,sir, the game itself gives me no pleasure."

  "I pay knave and upwards," declared Segrave in a dry and hollow voice,and with burning eyes fixed upon his new and formidable opponent.

  "My last sovereign, par Dieu!" swore Lord Walterton, throwing the moneyacross to Segrave with an unsteady hand.

  "And one of my last," said Sir Michael, as he followed suit.

  "And what is your stake, Master Lambert?" queried Segrave.

  "Twenty pounds I see," replied the young man, as with a careless hand hecounted over the gold which lay pell-mell on his card; "I staked on theking without counting."

  Segrave in his turn pushed some gold towards him. The pile in front ofhim was not half the size it had been before this stranger from thecountry had sat down to play. He tried to remain master of himself, notto show before these egotistical, careless cavaliers all the agony ofmind which he now endured and which had turned to positive physicaltorture.

  The ghost of stolen money, of exposure, of pillory and punishment whichhad so perceptibly paled as he saw the chance of replacing by hisunexpected winnings that which he had purloined, once more rose toconfront him. Again he saw before him the irascible employer, pointingwith relentless finger at the deficiency in the accounts, again he sawhis weeping mother, his stern father,--the disgrace, the irretrievablepast.

  "You are not leaving off playing, Sir Mi
chael?" he asked anxiously, asthe latter having handed him over a golden guinea, rose from the tableand without glancing at his late partners in the game, turned his backon them all.

  "Par Dieu!" he retorted, speaking roughly, and none too civilly over hisshoulder, "my pockets are empty.... Like Master Lambert here," he addedwith an unmistakable sneer, "I find no pleasure in _this_ sort of game!"

  "What do you mean?" queried Segrave hotly.

  "Oh, nothing," rejoined the other dryly, "you need not heed my remark.Are you not losing, too?"

  "What does he mean?" said Lambert with a puzzled frown, instinctivelyturning to his employer.

  "Naught! naught! my good Lambert," replied Sir Marmaduke, dropping hisvoice to a whisper. "Sir Michael Isherwood hath lost more than he canafford and is somewhat choleric of temper, that is all."

  "And in a little quiet game, my good young friend," added Endicott,also in a whisper, "'tis wisest to take no heed of a loser's vapors."

  "I pay ace only!" quoth Segrave triumphantly, who in the meanwhile hadcontinued the game.

  Lord Walterton swore a loud and prolonged oath. He had staked fiveguineas on a king and had lost.

  "Ventre-saint-gris, and likewise par le sang-bleu!" he said, "the firsttime I have had a king! Segrave, ye must leave me these few littleyellow toys, else I cannot pay for my lodgings to-night.... I'll giveyou a bill ... but I've had enough of this, by Gad!"

  And somewhat sobered, though still unsteady, he rose from the table.

  "Surely, my lord, you are not leaving off, too?" asked Segrave.

  "Nay! ... how can I continue?" He turned his breeches pocketsostentatiously inside out. "Behold, friend, these two beautiful andinnocent little dears!"

  "You can give me more bills ..." urged Segrave, "and you lose ... youmay not lose after this ... 'tis lucky to play on credit ... and ... andyour bills are always met, my lord ..."

  He spoke with feverish volubility, though his throat was parched andevery word he uttered caused him pain. But he was determined that thegame should proceed.

  He had won a little of his own back again the last few rounds.Certainly his luck would turn once more. His luck _must_ turn once more,or else ...

  "Nay! nay! I've had enough," said Lord Walterton, nodding a heavy headup and down, "there are too many of my bills about as it is.... I've hadenough."

  "Methinks, of a truth," said Lambert decisively, "that the game hasindeed lasted long enough.... And if some other gentleman would but takemy place ..."

  He made a movement as if to rise from the table, but was checked by aharsh laugh and a peremptory word from Segrave.

  "Impossible," said the latter, "you, Master Lambert, cannot leave off inany case.... My lord ... another hand ..." he urged again.

  "Nay! nay! my dear Segrave," replied Lord Walterton, shaking himselflike a sleepy dog, "the game hath ceased to have any pleasure for me, asour young friend here hath remarked.... I wish you good luck ... andgood-night."

  Whereupon he turned on his heel and straddled away to another corner ofthe room, away from the temptation of that green-covered table.

  "We two then, Master Lambert," said Segrave with ever-growingexcitement, "what say you? Double or quits?"

  And he pointed, with that same febrile movement of his, to the heap ofgold standing on the table beside Lambert.

  "As you please," replied the latter quietly, as he pushed the entirepile forward.

  Segrave dealt, then turned up his card.

  "Ten!" he said curtly.

  "Mine is a knave," rejoined Lambert.

  "How do we stand?" queried the other, as with a rapid gesture he passeda trembling hand over his burning forehead.

  "Methinks you owe me a hundred pounds," replied Richard, who seemedstrangely calm in the very midst of this inexplicable and volcanicturmoil which he felt was seething all round him. He had won a hundredpounds--a fortune in those days for a country lad like himself; but forthe moment the thought of what that hundred pounds would mean to him andto his brother Adam, was lost in the whirl of excitement which had risento his head like wine.

  He had steadily refused the glasses of muscadel or sack which MistressEndicott had insinuatingly and persistently been offering him, eversince he began to play; yet he felt intoxicated, with strange currentsof fire which seemed to run through his veins.

  The subtle poison had done its work. Any remorse which he may have feltat first, for thus acting against his own will and better judgment, andfor yielding like a weakling to persuasion, which had no moral rectitudefor basis, was momentarily smothered by the almost childish delight ofwinning, of seeing the pile of gold growing in front of him. He hadnever handled money before; it was like a fascinating yet insidious toywhich he could not help but finger.

  "Are you not playing rather high, gentlemen?" came in dulcet tones fromMistress Endicott; "I do not allow high play in my house. MasterLambert, I would fain ask you to cease."

  "I am more than ready, madam," said Richard with alacrity.

  "Nay! but I am not ready," interposed Segrave vehemently. "Nay! nay!" herepeated with feverish insistence, "Master Lambert cannot cease playingnow. He is bound in honor to give me a chance for revenge.... Double orquits, Master Lambert! ... Double or quits?"

  "As you please," quoth Lambert imperturbably.

  "Ye cannot cut to each other," here interposed Endicott didactically."The rules of primero moreover demand that if there are but two players,a third and disinterested party shall deal the cards."

  "Then will you cut and deal, Master Endicott," said Segrave impatiently;"I care not so long as I can break Master Lambert's luck and redeem mineown.... Double or quits, Master Lambert.... Double or quits.... I shalleither owe you two hundred pounds or not one penny.... In which case wecan make a fresh start...."

  Lambert eyed him with curiosity, sympathetically too, for the young manwas in a state of terrible mental agitation, whilst he himself feltcooler than before.

  Endicott dealt each of the two opponents a card face downwards, but evenas he did so, the one which he had dealt to Lambert fluttered to theground.

  He stooped and picked it up.

  Segrave's eyes at the moment were fixed on his own card, Lambert's onthe face of his opponent. No one else in the room was paying anyattention to the play of the two young men, for everyone was busy withhis own affairs. Play was general, the hour late. The wines had beenheady, and all tempers were at fever pitch.

  No one, therefore, was watching Endicott's movements at the moment whenhe ostensibly stooped to pick up the fallen card.

  "It is not faced," he said, "what shall we do?"

  "Give it to Master Lambert forsooth," quoth Mistress Endicott, "'tisunlucky to re-deal ... providing," she added artfully, "that MasterSegrave hath no objection."

  "Nay! nay!" said the latter. "Begad! why should we stop the game for atrifle?"

  Then as Lambert took the card from Endicott and casually glanced at it,Segrave declared:

  "Queen!"

  "King!" retorted Lambert, with the same perfect calm. "King of diamonds... that card has been persistently faithful to me to-night."

  "The devil himself hath been faithful to you, Master Lambert ..." saidSegrave tonelessly, "you have the hell's own luck.... What do I pay younow?"

  "It was double or quits, Master Segrave," rejoined Lambert, "whichbrings it up to two hundred pounds.... You will do me the justice to ownthat I did not seek this game."

  In his heart he had already resolved not to make use of his ownwinnings. Somehow as in a flash of intuition he perceived the wholetragedy of dishonor and of ruin which seemed to be writ on hisopponent's face. He understood that what he had regarded as atoy--welcome no doubt, but treacherous for all that--was a matter oflife or death--nay! more mayhap to that pallid youth, with the hecticflush, the unnaturally bright eyes and trembling hands.

  There was silence for a while round the green-topped table, whilstthoughts, feelings, presentiments of very varied kinds congregatedthere. With Endi
cott and his wife, and also with Sir Marmaduke, it wasacute tension, the awful nerve strain of anticipation. The seconds forthem seemed an eternity, the obsession of waiting was like lead on theirbrains.

  During that moment of acute suspense Richard Lambert was quietlyco-ordinating his thoughts.

  With that one mental flash-light which had shown up to him the hithertounsuspected tragedy, the latent excitement in him had vanished. He sawhis own weakness in its true light, despised himself for having yielded,and looked upon the heap of gold before him as so much ill-gottenwealth, which it would be a delight to restore to the hand from whenceit came.

  He heartily pitied the young man before him, and was forming vagueprojects of how best to make him understand in private and withouthumiliation that the money which he had lost would be returned to him infull. Strangely enough he was still holding in his hand that king ofdiamonds which Endicott had dealt to him.