“Pardon me, sir, do you play cribbage?”

Hugh turned half about and faced the speaker.  He could hardly believe his ears, his eyes.  Was it possible that the haughty Lord Huntingford had fixed upon him as the next lamb to be fleeced?  Ugly stories concerning the government emissary’s continuous winnings, disastrous losses of the young subalterns inveigled into gambling through fear of his official displeasure, were not unknown to Hugh.  A civil declination was on his lips; but keenly searching the shrivelled face leering into his own, Hugh saw written there something that compelled consideration, challenged a refusal.  Promptly and in affirmative speech he reversed his intention.

Slowly the left hand of Lord Huntingford produced from behind his back an exquisitely carved ebony cribbage-board; and assuming the position of host, indicated with exaggerated courtesy and a wave of his free hand the way to the smoking-room.

Hugh, following him along the deck, was hastily reviewing the voyage; and failing to recall any previous occasion wherein the nobleman had addressed him his sense of perplexity increased.  Was there some hidden purpose, some crafty machination lurking behind the elaborated manner with which the invitation was delivered?  On the other hand, perhaps, his imagination was playing him a trick, and this selection of an adversary was merely accidental.

And yet, had he but known, it was his own absorbing jealousy of Veath that precluded the recognition of a like sentiment directed against him, even surpassing in intensity its owner’s lust for gain at play.

The smoking-room was empty, which, to the younger man, appeared as rather extraordinary, and served to augment his supposition that such a condition was presupposed.  This, in turn, was dimissed, for he remembered that the usual occupants were either dancing or looking on.

Taking the initiative, as if such a course was incumbent, Lord Huntingford placed his cribbage-board on a table and drew up chairs for both; with equal politeness the proffered seat was accepted, Hugh registering inwardly a determination to force high stakes, and, if possible, recoup the losses of the young officers.  Not for an instant did he doubt his ability to detect the slightest irregularities in the count of his discredited opponent.

“Sovereign a point?”

“Done!  Five, if you like!”

This answer from the young American caused an avaricious glint to leap into the other’s eyes.  Plainly, two master passions fought for supremacy:  an inordinate greed for money and a choleric determination to prohibit any further attentions to his wife.  The struggle was brief, for the vehemence of his enmity, triumphant, the hope of immediate emolument was sacrificed, and the rooking of the young man postponed to some future occasion.  Then, subtly concealing his purpose, he nodded an ambiguous acceptance.

Cards were ordered.  A steward fetched them and awaited further commands.