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"Yes"

"Begging, I suppose?"

"He borrowed some money for his friend Barrymaine"

The Viscount flushed hotly, and looked at Barnabas with a sudden

frown

"Perhaps you are unaware, that is a name I never allow spoken in my

presence, Mr Beverley"

"Indeed, Viscount, and pray, why not?"

"For one thing, because he is--what he is--"

"Lady Cleone's brother"

"Half-brother, sir, and none the less a--knave"

"How--?"

"I mean that he is a card-sharper, a common cheat"

"Her brother--?"

"Half-brother!"

"A cheat! Are you sure?"

"Certain! I had the misfortune to make the discovery And it killed

him in London, all the clubs shut their doors upon hi to be seen in his company or

even to mention his name--now"

"And you--you exposed him?"

"I said I made the discovery; but I kept it to ht, and we played late I went ho for him So I took him aside,

and, in as friendly a spirit as I could, told hi a denial, offered restitution

and proave my word to keep silent and, on one