' Then the Duke said nothing further about
Tregear; nor did she.
'So you have come at last,' he said to Gerald. That was the first
greeting,--to which the son responded by an awkward smile. But in
the course of the evening he walked straight up to his father--'I
have something to tell you, sir,' said he.
'Something to tell me?'
'Something that will make you very angry.'
CHAPTER 65
'Do You Ever Think What Money Is?'
Gerald told his story, standing bolt upright, and looking his
father full in the face as he told it. 'You lost three thousand
four hundred pounds at one sitting to Lord Percival--at cards!'
'Yes, sir.'
'In Lord Nidderdale's house.'
'Yes, sir. Nidderdale wasn't playing. It wasn't his fault.'
'Who were playing?'
'Percival, and Dolly Longstaff, and Jack Hinde,--and I. Popplecourt
was playing at first.'
'Lord Popplecourt!'
'Yes, sir. But he went away when he began to lose.'
'Three thousand four hundred pounds! How old are you?'
'I am just twenty-one.'
'You are beginning the world well, Gerald! What is the engagement
which Silverbridge has made with Lord Percival?'
'To pay him the money at the end of next month.
Pages:
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875