Lisle met her glance with a good a.s.sumption of surprise.

"Grateful? Because I indulged in a rather enjoyable match?"

She laughed.

"You learn rapidly. But I'd better say in excuse that I didn't think I'd involved you in a very serious risk. He hasn't your eyes and hands--one couldn't expect it. You don't need pick-me-ups in the morning, do you?"

Lisle was slightly embarra.s.sed. This girl's knowledge of life was too extensive, and he would have preferred that she should exhibit it to somebody else.

"Well," she concluded as they approached the tea-table, "my thanks are yours, even if you don't value them."

"What do you expect me to say?" he asked, regarding her with some amus.e.m.e.nt and appreciation. She was alluringly pretty in her rather elaborate light dress.

"Yes," she smiled mockingly, disregarding his question; "these things become me better than the tweeds, don't they? They make one look nice and soft and fluffy; but that's deceptive. You see, I can scratch; in fact, I felt I could have scratched Batley badly if I'd got the chance. There's another hint for you--make what you like of it."

Then with a laugh she swung round and left him, puzzled.

CHAPTER XI

CRESTWICK GIVES TROUBLE

The little room in Marple's house, where the Crestwicks were staying, was hot and partly filled with cigar smoke which drifted in filmy streaks athwart the light of the green-shaded hanging-lamp. Lisle sat beneath the lamp, studying the cards in his hand, until he leaned back in his chair and flung a glance about the table. There were no counters on it, but Gladwyne had just noted something in a little book and was waiting with a languid smile upon his handsome face. Next to him sat Batley, looking thoughtful; and Crestwick sat opposite Lisle, eager and unhealthily flushed. His forehead showed damp in the lamplight and there was an unpleasant glitter in his eyes. It was close on to midnight and luck had gone hard against him during the past hour, half of which Lisle had spent in his company. This had cost Lisle more money than he was willing to part with.

"It's getting late," he said with a yawn. "After this hand, I'll drop out; I dare say one of the other two will take my place. Crestwick, I believe your sister and Miss Leslie will be waiting. You're going with them, aren't you?"

The lad, turning in his chair, reached toward a near-by table on which there were bottles and siphons, and took a gla.s.s from it. He had been invited to join a shooting party at a house in the neighborhood and was to spend the night there.

"Oh!" he exclaimed with some irritation; "Bella's always in such an unreasonable hurry. The others can't be going yet. I think I hear Flo Marple singing."

A voice from somewhere below reached them through the open door. It was a good voice, but the words were a silly jingle and the humor in them could not be considered delicate. Lisle, glancing at Gladwyne, noticed his slight frown, but one of the two young men lounging by the second table watching the game hummed the refrain with an appreciative smile upon his heavy and somewhat fatuous face.

"They'll take half an hour to get ready," declared Batley. "Better play out this round, anyhow."

They laid down their cards in turn and then Crestwick noisily thrust his chair back.

"Another knock-out!" he exclaimed savagely. "I don't like to get up so far behind. Shall we double on another deal?"

"As you like," returned Batley. "You're plucky, considering the cards you've had; but if Fortune's fickle, she's supposed to favor a determined suitor."

It was innocent enough, but Lisle fancied that there was sufficient flattery in the speech to incite the headstrong lad, who had now emptied the gla.s.s at his hand. He remembered that on another occasion when there had been a good deal at stake, Batley had played on Crestwick's feelings, though in a slightly different manner. Whether or not the young man lost more than he could afford was, in one way, no concern of Lisle's, and he did not find him in the least attractive; but half an hour previously Bella had met him in the hall and had hinted, with a troubled look, that she would appreciate it if he could get her brother away. It was this that accounted for the Canadian's presence in the card-room.

"I'm going, anyway," he said, taking out some notes and gold and laying them down. "There has been a smart shower and you had better remember that Miss Leslie walked over--the roads will be wet. As you know, I promised to take the girls back in Nasmyth's trap, and he won't thank me if I keep his groom up."

Crestwick grumbled and hesitated, and he grew rather red in face as he turned to Batley.

"I've only these two notes," he explained. "Expected all along I'd pull up even. Will you arrange things? See you about it when I come back."

Batley nodded carelessly, and the lad stood up, looking irresolutely at the table.

"Fact is," he went on, "I'd like to get straight before I go. I'm in pretty heavy for one night; another round might do something to set me straight."

"Gladwyne and I are quite willing to give you your chance," was Batley's quick reply; but Lisle unceremoniously laid his hand on Crestwick's shoulder.

"Come along," he urged, laughing. "Luck's against you; you've had quite enough."

He had the lad out of the door in another moment, and looking back from the landing he saw a curious look in Gladwyne's face which he thought was one of disgust. Batley, however, was frowning openly; and the two men's expressions had a meaning for him. He was inclined to wonder whether he had used force too ostensibly in ejecting the lad; but, after all, that did not very much matter--his excuse was good enough. As they went down the stairs, Crestwick turned to him, hot and angry.

"It strikes me you're pretty officious! Never saw you until two or three weeks ago," he muttered. "Not accustomed to being treated in that offhand manner. It's Colonial, I suppose!"

"Sorry," Lisle apologized with a smile. "I've an idea that you'll be grateful when you cool off. You've been going it pretty strong to-night."

"That's true," agreed the other with a show of pride. "Kept on raising them; made things lively!"

"Found it expensive, didn't you?" Lisle suggested; and as they reached the foot of the stairs he led his companion toward the door. "Suppose we take a turn along the terrace before we look for your sister."

Crestwick went with him, but presently he stopped and leaned on the low wall.

"Do you ever feel inclined for a flutter on the stock-market?" he inquired. "There's a thing Batley put me on to--there'll be developments in a month or two; it's going to a big premium. Let you have a hundred shares at par. Rather in a hole, temporarily."

Lisle had no intention of buying the stock, but he asked a few questions.

It appeared that it had been issued by a new company formed to grow coffee and rubber in the tropics.

"No," he said; "a deal of that kind is out of my line. Why not sell them through a broker and get your full profit?"

"It would take some days," answered the other. "Besides, they won't move up until the directors let things out at the next meeting. Something of that kind, anyway; I forget--Batley explained it." He paused and added irritably: "Believe I told you I'm in a hole."

"You must meet your losses and don't know how to manage it?"

Lisle was curious and had no diffidence about putting the question, though the lad was obviously off his guard.

"I can raise the money right enough--Batley'll see to that; but I'd sooner do it another way. The interest's high enough to make one think, and in this case I'm paying it on money he's putting into his pocket."

There was a good deal to be inferred from this reply, but Lisle considered before he spoke again.

"You're twenty-one, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes," a.s.sented the lad, "but the trustees keep hold until I'm twenty-four."

He turned with quick suspicion to the Canadian.

"I don't see what that has to do with you!"

"It isn't very obvious," Lisle agreed. "Shall we go in?"