'Come and have some supper, old fellow,' he said, 'and I can tell you my
troubles while you are eating it. James, bring us a grill, and a
lobster, and a bottle of Mumms, number 27, you know.'
'Yes, my lord.'
'Sorry to find you in this den, Maulevrier,' said Lord Hartfield.
'Haven't touched a card. Haven't done half an hour's punting this
season. But it's a kind of habit with me to wander in here now and then.
I know so many of the members. One poor devil lost nine thousand one
night last week. Bather rough upon him, wasn't it? All ready money at
this shop, don't you know.'
'Thank God, I know nothing about it. And now, Maulevrier, what is wrong,
and with whom?'
'Everything is wrong, and with my sister Lesbia.'
'Good heavens! what do you mean?'
'Only this, that there is a fellow after her whose very name means ruin
to women--a Spanish-American adventurer--reckless, handsome, a gambler,
seducer, duellest, dare-devil. The man she is to marry seems to have
neither nous nor spunk to defend her. Everybody at Goodwood saw the game
that was being played, everybody at Cowes is watching the cards, betting
on the result.
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