But the demon of play had taken full possession of both Rouleau and the lieutenant and they were not to be denied. Rouleau took from his pocket a roll of bills and counted them.
"Fifty dollars," he cried. "Bon! I play him, me!"The others deposited a like sum before them, and the game proceeded.
The deal was De Lacy's. After a few moment's consideration, Mr.
Sims and LeNoir each drew three cards. In a tone of triumph which he could not altogether suppress, Rouleau exclaimed "Dees are good enough for me." The lieutenant drew one card, and the betting began.
Twice Rouleau, when it came to his turn, bet the limit, the others contenting themselves by "raising" one dollar. On the third round LeNoir, remarking, "Das leetle too queek for me," dropped out.
Once more Rouleau raised the bet to the limit, when Mr. Sims refused, and left the game to him and the lieutenant. There was no mistaking the eager triumph in the Frenchman's pale face. He began to bet more cautiously, his only fear being that his opponent would "call" too soon. Dollar by dollar the bet was raised till at last Rouleau joyously gathered his last chips, raised the bet once more by the limit, exclaiming, as he did so, "Alas! dere ees no more!"He had played his season's wages that night, but now he would recover all.
De Lacy, whose coolness was undisturbed, though his face showed signs of his many brandy-and-sodas, covered the bet.
"Hola!" exclaimed Rouleau in triumph. "Eet ees to me!" He threw down his cards and reached for the pile.
"Excuse me," said the lieutenant, quietly looking at Rouleau's cards. "Ah, a straight flush, queen high." Coolly he laid his cards on the table. "Thought you might have had the ace," he said, languidly, leaning back in his chair. He, too, held a straight flush, but with the king.
Rouleau gazed thunderstruck.
"Mort Dieu!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "The deal was from you.""Mine," said De Lacy, quietly, looking up at the excited Frenchman.
"Ah," cried Rouleau, beside himself. "It is--what you call? One cheat! cheat!"The lieutenant sat up straight in his chair.
"Do you mean that I cheated you?" he said, with slow emphasis.
"Beware what you say."
"Oui!" cried the Frenchman; "sacr-r-re--so I mean!"Before the words had well left his lips, and before any one could interfere De Lacy shot out his arm, lifted the Frenchman clear off his feet, and hurled him to the floor.
"Stop! you coward!" Ranald stood before the lieutenant with eyes blazing and breath coming quick.
"Coward?" said De Lacy, slowly.
"You hit a man unprepared."
"You are prepared, I suppose," replied De Lacy, deliberately.
"Yes! Yes!" cried Ranald, eagerly, the glad light of battle coming into his eyes.
"Good," said De Lacy, slowly putting back his chair, and proceeding to remove his coat.
"Glengarry!" cried LeNoir, raising the battle cry he had cause to remember so well; and flinging off his coat upon the floor, he patted Ranald on the back, yelling, "Go in, bully boy!""Shut the door, LeNoir," said Ranald, quickly, "and keep it shut.""De Lacy," cried Harry, "this must not go on! Ranald, think what you are doing!""You didn't notice his remark, apparently, St. Clair," said the lieutenant, calmly.
"Never mind," cried Harry, "he was excited, and anyway the thing must end here.""There is only one way. Does he retract?" said De Lacy, quietly.
"Ranald," Harry cried, beseechingly, "you know he is no coward; you did not mean that."By this time Ranald had himself in hand.
"No," he said, regretfully, forcing himself to speak the truth. "Iknow he is no coward; I have seen him where no coward would be, but," he added, "he struck a man unguarded, and that was a coward's blow.""Macdonald," said De Lacy deliberately, "you are right. True, he called me a cheat, but I should have given him time. Still," he added, rolling up his sleeves, "I hope you will not deprive yourself or me of the privilege of settling this little business.""I will be glad," said Ranald, his eyes once more lighting up.
"Very glad indeed, if you wish."
"Nonsense," cried Harry, passionately, "I tell you I will not have it. He has given you ample apology, De Lacy; and you, Ranald, Ithought a Macdonald never fought except for sufficient cause!"Harry remembered the fighting rule of the Macdonald gang.
