The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer (famous ebook reader .TXT) đ
- Author: Georgette Heyer
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âOnce, sir, I was certain of it. Nowâ!â he shrugged.
âYet âtis true, Warburton. I would give all in my power to undo that nightâs work.â
âYou cannot expect me to believe that, sir. It rests with you alone whether his name be cleared or not. And you remain silent.â
âWarburton, Iâ Oh, do you think it means nothing to me that John is outcast?â
Before the misery in those grey eyes some of Warburtonâs severity fell away from him.
âMaster Richard, I want to think the best I can of you. Master Jack would tell me nothing. Will you notâcan you not explain how it came that you allowed him to bear the blame of your cheat?â
Richard shuddered.
âThereâs no explanationâno excuse. I forced it on him! On Jack, my brother! Because I was mad for love of Laviniaâ Oh, my God, the thought of it is driving me crazed! I thought I could forget; and thenâand thenâI met him! The sight of him brought it all back to me. Ever since that day I have not known how to live and not shriek the truth to everyone! And I never shall! I never shall!â
âTell me, sir,â pleaded Warburton, touched in spite of himself.
Richardâs head sunk into his hands.
âThe whole scene is a nightmare⊠. I think I must have been mad⊠I scarce knew what I was about. Iââ
âGently, sir. Remember I know hardly anything. What induced you to mark the cards?â
âThat debt to Gundry. My father would not meet it; I had to find the money. I could not face the scandalâI tell you I was mad for Lavinia! I could think of nought else. I ceased to care for John because I thought him in love with her. I could not bear to think of the disgrace which would take her from me⊠. Then that night at Dareâs. I was losing; I knew I could not pay. Gad! but I can see my notes of hand under Milwardâs elbow, growing⊠growing.
âJack had played Milward before me, and he had won. I remember they laughed at him, saying his luck had turned at lastâfor he always lost at cards. Milward and I played with the same pack that they had used⊠. There was another table, I think. Dare was dicing with Fitzgerald; someone was playing faro with Jack behind me. I heard Jack say his luck was out againâI heard them laugh⊠. And all the time I was losing⊠losing.
âThe pin of my cravat fell out on to my knee. I think no one saw it. As I picked it up the thought that I should mark the cards seemed to flash into my mindâoh, it was despicable, I know! I held the ace of clubs in my hand: I scratched it with that pinâin one corner. It was easily done. By degrees I marked all four, and three of the kings.
âNo one noticed, but I was nervousâI dared do no more. I replaced that pin. Soon I began to winânot very much. Then Tracy Belmanoir came across the room to watch our play. From that moment everything seemed to go awry. It was the beginning of the trouble.
âTracy stood behind me watching⊠. I could feel him there, like some black moth, hovering⊠. I donât know how long he stayed like thatâit seemed hours. I could feel his eyes⊠. I could have shriekedâIâll swear my hands were trembling.
âSuddenly he moved. I had played the ace of hearts. He said: âOne moment!â in that soft, sinister voice of his.
âMilward was surprised. I tried to tell myself that Devil had noticed nothing⊠. The mark on that card was so faint that I could scarce see it myself. I thought it impossible that he, a mere onlooker, should discover it. He stepped forward. I remember he brushed my shoulder. I remember how the light caught the diamonds he was wearing. I think my brain was numbed. I could only repeat to myself: âExtravagant Devil! Extravagant Devil!â and stare at those winking jewels. Then I thought: âHe is Laviniaâs brother, but I do not like him; I do not like him⊠ââlittle foolish things like thatâand my throat was dryâparched.
âHe bent over the table⊠stretched out his white, white hand⊠turned over the ace⊠lifted his quizzing glass⊠and stared down at the card. Then he dropped the glass and drew out his snuffbox⊠. It had Aphrodite enamelled on the lid. I remember it so distinctly⊠. I heard Tracy ask Milward to examine the ace. I wanted to spring up and strangle him⊠. I could scarce keep my hands still.â Richard paused. He drew his hand across his eyes, shuddering.
âMilward saw the scratch. He cried out that the cards were marked! Suddenly everyone seemed to be gathered about our tableâall talking! Jack had his hand on my shoulder; he and Dare were running through the pack. But all the while I could look at no one but TracyâAndover. He seemed so sinister, so threatening, in those black clothes of his. His eyes were almost shutâhis face so white And he was looking at me! He seemed to be reading my very soul⊠. For an instant I thought he knew! I wanted to shout out that he was wrong! I wanted to shriek to him to take his eyes away! Heaven knows what I should have done! ⊠but he looked awayâat Jack, with that sneering smile on his damned mask of a face! I could have killed him for that smile! I think Jack understood itâhe dropped the cards, staring at Tracy.
âEveryone was watching them⊠no one looked at me. If they had they must surely have learnt the truth; but they were hanging on Andoverâs lips, looking from him to Jack and back again⊠. I remember Fitzgerald dropped his handkerchiefâI was absurdly interested in that. I was wondering why he did not pick it up, when Andover spoke again⊠. âAnd Carstaresâ luck turned⊠. ?â Like that, Warburton! With just that faint, questioning in his voice.
âBefore Jack could speak there was an outcry. Dare cried âShame!â to Andover. They laughed at him, as well they might. But I saw them exchange glancesâthey were wondering⊠. It was suspicious that Jack should have had that run of luckâand that he should lose as soon as he left that table.
âMilwardâpoor, silly Milwardâgaped at Tracy and stuttered that surely âtwas another pack we had used. I could hardly breathe! Then Andover corrected himâ How did he know? No one else remembered, or thought of noticingâonly he! âŠ
âI can see Jack now, standing there so stiffly, with his head thrown up, and those blue eyes of his flashing.
ââDo I understand you to accuse me, Belmanoir?â he said. Oh, but he was furious!
âTracy never said a word. Only his eyes just flickered to my face and away again.
âJackâs hand was gripping my shoulder hard. I could feel his anger⊠. Dare called out that the suggestion was preposterous. That John should cheat!
âTracy asked him if the cards were his. Gad! I can hear his soft, mocking voice now!
âDare went purpleâyou know his way, Warburton.
ââOpened in your presence on this table!â he cried.
ââBy Carstares!â smiled Tracy.
âIt was true. But why should Tracy remember it, and none other? They stared at him, amazed. Dare turned to Jack for corroboration. He nodded. I think he never looked haughtier⊠.
âYou know how fond of Jack Dare was? He tried to bluster it offâtried to get control over the affair. It was to no avail. We were puppets, worked by that devil, Belmanoir! One man managing that ghastly scene⊠He pointed out that only three of us had used that pack: Jack, Milward and I.
âJack laughed.
ââNext you will accuse Dick!â he snapped scornfully.
ââOne of you, certainly,â smiled Andover. âOr Milward.â
âThen everyone realised that one of us three must have marked the cards. Milward was upset, but no one suspected him. It was Jackâor me.
âAs long as I live I shall never forget the horror of those moments. If I were exposed it meant the end oÂŁ everything between Lavinia and me. I tell you, Warburton, I would have committed any sin at that moment! Nothing would have been too blackâI could not bear to lose her. You donât know what she meant to me!â
âI can guess, sir,â said the lawyer, gravely
âNo, no! No one could imagine the depths of my love for her! I think not even Jack⊠. I felt his hand leave my shoulder⊠. The truth had dawned on him. I heard the way the breath hissed between his teeth as he realised⊠. Somehow I got to my feet, clutching at the table, facing him. I donât excuse myselfâI know my conduct was beyond words dastardly. I looked across at himâjust said his name, as though I could scarce believe my ears. So all those watching thought. But Jack knew better. He knew I was imploring him to save me. He understood all that I was trying to convey to him. For an instant he stared at me. I thoughtâI thoughtâGod forgive me, I prayed that he might take the blame on himself. Then he smiled. Coward though I was, when I saw that hurt, wistful little smile on his lips, I nearly blurted out the whole truth. Not quite⊠. I suppose I was too mean-spirited for that.
âJack bowed to the room and again to Dare. He said: âI owe you an apology, sir.â
âDare sprang forward, catching him by the shoulderâcrying out that it could not be true! When Jack laughedâhe fell away from him as fromâthe plague. And all of them! My God, to see them drawing awayânot looking at Jack! And Jackâs faceâgrowing paler and harder ⊠every moment⊠. All his friends⊠turning their backs to him. Davenantâeven Jim Davenant walked away to the fireplace with Evans.
âI could not look at Jack. I dared not. I could not go to himâstand by him! I had not the right. I had to leave him thereâin the middle of the roomâalone. The awful hurt in his eyes made me writhe. The room was whirling roundâI felt sickâI know I fell back into my chair, hiding my face. I hardly cared whether they suspected me or not. But they did not. They knew how great was the love between us, and they were not surprised that I broke down.
âI heard Andoverâs soft voice⊠he was telling some tale to Dare. Oh, they were well-bred those men! They skimmed over the unpleasant little episodeâignored Jack!
âJack spoke again. I could guess how bravely he was keeping a proud front. I know word for word what he said: âMr. Dare, your Grace, Gentlemenâ my apologies for being the cause of so unpleasant an incident. Pray give me leave.â
âThey paid no heed. I heard him walk to the doorâheard him open it. I could not look at him. Heâhe paused⊠and said just one word: âDick!â quite softly. Heaven knows how I got to him! I know I overturned my chair. That drew Dareâs attention. He said: âYou are not going, Dick?â I shouted âYes,â at him, and then Jack took my arm, leading me out.
âAndâand all he said was: âPoor old Dick!â⊠Heâhe had no word of blame for me. He would not allow me to go back and tell the truthâas I would have done. Ay, Warburton, when Jack called me to him, I could have cried it aloudâbutâhe would not have it⊠. He said: âFor Laviniaâs sake.â ⊠â
Warburton blew his nose violently. His fingers were trembling.
âYou know what happened afterwards. You know how my father
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