The Lady Catharine Knollys, in sheer reaction from the strain, broke out into a peal of laughter.

“Sure, he has strange ways about him, this same Mr. Law,” said she.  “That young man would have come here direct, and would have made himself quite at home, methinks, had he had but the first encouragement.”

“Gad!  Lady Catharine, but he has a conceit of himself.  Think you of what he has done in his short stay here in town!  First, as you know, he sat at cards with two or three of us the other evening—­Charlie Castleton, Beau Wilson, myself and one or two besides.  And what doth he do but stake a bauble against good gold that he would make sept et le va.”

“And did it?”

“And did it.  Yes, faith, as though he saw it coming.  Yet ’twas I who cut and dealt the cards.  Nor was that the half of it,” he went on.  “He let the play run on till ’twas seize et le va, then vingt-un et le va, then twenty-five.  And, strike me!  Lady Catharine, if he sat not there cool as my Lord Speaker in the Parliament, and saw the cards run to trente et le va, as though ’twere no more to him than the eating of an orange!”

“And showed no anxiety at all?”

“None, as I tell you, and he proved to us plain that he had not two-pence to his name, for that he had been robbed the night before while on his way to town.  He staked a diamond, a stone of worth.  I must say, his like was never seen at cards.”

“He hath strange quality.”

“That you may say.  Now read me some farther riddles of this same young man.  He managed to win from me a little shoe of an American savage, which I had bought at a good price but the day before.  It came to idle talk of ladies’ shoes, and wagers—­well, no matter; and so Mr. Law brought on a sudden quarrel with Beau Wilson.  Then, though he seemed not wanting courage, he half declined to face Wilson on the field.  Sudden to change as ever, this very morning he sent word to Wilson by Mr. Castleton that he was ready to meet him at four this afternoon.  God save us! what a haste was there!  And now, to cap it all, he hath taken my horse from me and ridden off to keep an appointment which he says he never made!  Gad!  These he odd ways enough, and almost too keen for me to credit.  Why, ’twould not surprise me to hear that he had been here to make love to the Lady Catharine Knollys, and to offer her the proceeds of his luck at faro.  And, strike me! if that same luck holds, he’ll have all the money in London in another fortnight!  I wish him joy of Wilson.”

“He may be hurt!” exclaimed the Lady Catharine, starting up.

“Who?  Beau Wilson?” exclaimed Sir Arthur.  “Take no fear.  He carries a good blade.”

“Sir Arthur,” said the girl, “is there no way to stop this foolish matter?  Is there not yet time?”

“Why, as to that,” said Sir Arthur, “it all depends upon the speed of my own horse.  I should think myself e’en let off cheaply if he took the horse and rode on out of London, and never turned up again.  Yet, I bethink me, he has a way of turning up.  If so, then we are too late.  Let him go.  For me, I’d liefer sit me here with Lady Catharine, who, I perceive, is about now to save my death of hunger, since now I see the tea tray coming.  Thank thee prettily.”