The Black Moth

"The pin of my cravat fell out on to my knee. I think no one saw it. AsI picked it up the thought that I should mark the cards seemed to flashinto my mind--oh, it was despicable, I know! I held the ace of clubs inmy hand: I scratched it with that pin--in one corner. It was easilydone. By degrees I marked all four, and three of the kings.

"No one noticed, but I was nervous--I dared do no more. I replaced thatpin. Soon I began to win--not very much. Then Tracy Belmanoir cameacross the room to watch our play. From that moment everything seemed togo awry. It was the beginning of the trouble.

"Tracy stood behind me watching.... I could feel him there, like someblack moth, hovering.... I don't know how long he stayed like that--itseemed hours. I could feel his eyes.... I could have shrieked--I'llswear my hands were trembling.

"Suddenly he moved. I had played the ace of hearts. He said: 'Onemoment!' in that soft, sinister voice of his.

"Milward was surprised. I tried to tell myself that Devil had noticednothing.... The mark on that card was so faint that I could scarce seeit myself. I thought it impossible that he, a mere onlooker, shoulddiscover it. He stepped forward. I remember he brushed my shoulder. Iremember how the light caught the diamonds he was wearing. I think mybrain was numbed. I could only repeat to myself: 'Extravagant Devil!Extravagant Devil!' and stare at those winking jewels. Then I thought:'He is Lavinia's brother, but I do not like him; I do not like him...'--little foolish things like that--and my throat was dry--parched.

"He bent over the table ... stretched out his white, white hand ...turned over the ace ... lifted his quizzing glass ... and stared down atthe card. Then he dropped the glass and drew out his snuff-box.... Ithad Aphrodite enamelled on the lid. I remember it so distinctly.... Iheard Tracy ask Milward to examine the ace. I wanted to spring up andstrangle him.... I could scarce keep my hands still." Richard paused. Hedrew his hand across his eyes, shuddering.

"Milward saw the scratch. He cried out that the cards were marked!Suddenly everyone seemed to be gathered about our table--all talking!Jack had his hand on my shoulder; he and Dare were running through thepack. But all the while I could look at no one but Tracy--Andover. Heseemed so sinister, so threatening, in those black clothes of his. Hiseyes were almost shut--his face so white. And he was looking at me! Heseemed to be reading my very soul.... For an instant I thought he knew!I wanted to shout out that he was wrong! I wanted to shriek to him totake his eyes away! Heaven knows what I should have done!... but helooked away--at Jack, with that sneering smile on his damned mask of aface! I could have killed him for that smile! I think Jack understoodit--he dropped the cards, staring at Tracy.

"Everyone was watching them ... no one looked at me. If they had theymust surely have learnt the truth; but they were hanging on Andover'slips, looking from him to Jack and back again.... I remember Fitzgeralddropped his handkerchief--I was absurdly interested in that. I waswondering why he did not pick it up, when Andover spoke again.... 'AndCarstares' luck turned...?' Like that, Warburton! With just that faint,questioning in his voice.

"Before Jack could speak there was an outcry. Dare cried 'Shame!' toAndover. They laughed at him, as well they might. But I saw themexchange glances--they were wondering.... It was suspicious that Jackshould have had that run of luck--and that he should lose as soon as heleft that table.

"Milward--poor, silly Milward--gaped at Tracy and stuttered that surely'twas another pack we had used. I could hardly breathe! Then Andovercorrected him--How did he _know_? No one else remembered, or thought ofnoticing--only he!

"I can see Jack now, standing there so stiffly, with his head thrown up,and those blue eyes of his flashing.

"'Do I understand you to accuse me, Belmanoir?' he said. Oh, but he wasfurious!

"Tracy never said a word. Only his eyes just flickered to my face andaway again.

"Jack's hand was gripping my shoulder hard. I could feel his anger....Dare called out that the suggestion was preposterous. That John shouldcheat!

"Tracy asked him if the cards were his. Gad! I can hear his soft,mocking voice now!

"Dare went purple--you know his way, Warburton.

"'Opened in your presence on this table!' he cried.

"'By Carstares!' smiled Tracy.

"It was true. But why should Tracy remember it, and none other? Theystared at him, amazed. Dare turned to Jack for corroboration. He nodded.I think he never looked haughtier....

"You know how fond of Jack Dare was? He tried to bluster it off--triedto get control over the affair. It was to no avail. We were puppets,worked by that devil, Belmanoir! One man managing that ghastly scene....He pointed out that only three of us had used that pack: Jack, Milwardand I.

"Jack laughed.

"'Next you will accuse Dick!' he snapped scornfully.

"'One of you, certainly,' smiled Andover. 'Or Milward.'

"Then everyone realised that one of us three must have marked the cards.Milward was upset, but no one suspected him. It was Jack--or me.

"As long as I live I shall never forget the horror of those moments. IfI were exposed it meant the end of everything between Lavinia and me. Itell you, Warburton, I would have committed any sin at that moment!Nothing would have been too black--I could not bear to lose her. Youdon't know what she meant to me!"

"I can guess, sir," said the lawyer, gravely.

"No, no! No one could imagine the depths of my love for her! I think noteven Jack.... I felt his hand leave my shoulder.... The truth had dawnedon him. I heard the way the breath hissed between his teeth as herealised.... Somehow I got to my feet, clutching at the table, facinghim. I don't excuse myself--I know my

conduct was beyond wordsdastardly. I looked across at him--just said his name, as though I couldscarce believe my ears. So all those watching thought. But Jack knewbetter. He knew I was imploring him to save me. He understood all that Iwas trying to convey to him. For an instant he stared at me. Ithought--I thought--God forgive me, I prayed that he might take theblame on himself. Then he smiled. Coward though I was, when I saw thathurt, wistful little smile on his lips, I nearly blurted out the wholetruth. Not quite.... I suppose I was too mean-spirited for that.

"Jack bowed to the room and again to Dare. He said: 'I owe you anapology, sir.'

"Dare sprang forward, catching him by the shoulder--crying out that itcould not be true! When Jack laughed--he fell away from him as from theplague. And all of them! My God, to see them drawing away--not lookingat Jack! And Jack's face--growing paler and harder ... every moment....All his friends... turning their backs to him. Davenant--even JimDavenant walked away to the fireplace with Evans.