The Knave of Diamonds

houlders and shivered a little. The night air blew in brisk and cold upon her uncovered neck, but except for that slight, involuntary shiver she sc

with her face to the night, breathing the chill air as one who had been on the verge of suffocation. It was evidently she who had flung up the window. Her gloved hands leaned upon the woodwork on each sid

ghter, and stamping feet that rose from below. It filled the night with uproar. No

the slim figure that stood so motionless before the open window. It was almost wide enough now. Surely it was wide enough, for suddenly it ceased to move. The

ashed from a magic lantern slide, a man's head came into view. A man's eyes, dusky, fie

e debating with himself upon some plan of action, then, bo

leaner by contrast. His sleek black hair was parted in the middle above his swarthy face, giv

as though magnetically drawn to her. But she remained quite unaware of him, and he, no whit d

ome of the dancers were singing. Now and then a man's voi

smiled to himself a faint, thin-lipped smil

ards into heaps with lightning rapidity, turning up one here

was slightly nasal, "you will have to tel

e. The electric light flared upon her pale, proud

aid persuasively, still

l never tell

hen with a certain stateliness she advanced to t

aid, in a voice that had a hint of girlis

a jerk, and the next

sorry! What must you ta

beg you will

e severity went out of her face. Fo

sequence. I saw

d you are not a bit like Mrs. Damer either. Are you

not. I am g

"I shall take it horribly to heart if you do. A

not feeling malicious, but you a

llow. I came in here merely because I was wandering about seeking distraction.

pon the cards before him. "What are

wn?" he said, "an

erself facin

brows bent. Then, "It is a magician's ga

hesi

oked up. "You a

tfulness in her grey eyes. "Oh,

de complaint. But anyone with imagination can a

articu

rhaps you have never needed a

tly startled. "W

And a little humbug does the same for the mind. Of course you don't believe anything. I don't myself. But you can't stand for

s was still in her own. "Then you are offering to weave a lit

bow. "If you will

oredom?" she sugge

smiled back, tak

her eyes to the deft hands that were dispos

silence; then in his careless,

me? It is essential to the game, of c

is Anne,"

t seemed to cause her some relief. The tension had gone

in spite of itself. There was about her every movement a queenly grace that made her remarkable, and

ou please?" sa

nty-

ced up

she repeated. "I am

r a few seconds, then in si

music was quickening to the finale. The hubbub of voices had

anion spoke. "Do

n. "Yes, I like them. I h

yes. "You haven't a passion for anyt

very unlikel

was manoeuvring the car

n opened yet. I see an

n illness first. That c

een ill in my l

you, then-not a very painful one

n the

en. No, here comes the Knave-confound his impudence!-and, by Jove, yes, followed by the missing heart. I am glad you have got one anyway, even if the King is not in it. It looks as if you wi

int smile of hers that softened her f

e said finally, "I see an exciting future before you. I hope you will look out fo

ce at court as the Que

most humble servant!" he declared, "I enter upon my functions from this day forward. You w

re will be a coro

dent," he replie

chance to be ma

again at the cards. "It seems pretty certain. If it weren't for that hobgoblin of a Knave I should say it was

certainly keep him at a respectf

else to do." He swept the cards together and sprang to his f

egatived his proposal. "Shall we go down to the vesti

he questio

de the point,

u are disengaged for the next!" His manner became almost boyishly

alting between two opinions. "But

nd the Queen can do no wrong. Don't be a slave to t

ime before the shrine of the deity he condemned. But for all their mastery, they h

here sha

ll deign to accompany me," he said, "a corner where one can

well," she observed, as she suffer

ise general always studi