“He is not really a clever gambler,” Charles Kepple interposed. “As you noticed, Vidal, when he is excited he always gives himself away.”
“I joined in the game, which rather surprised them,” the Earl went on. “I had no idea what Wroxley was putting up as collateral. But when I won I saw the fury on Crawthorne’s face.”
“I wish I had been there,” Charles Kepple smiled.
“I rose from the table and suggested to the two greenhorns that they have a drink with me.”
“Did they accept?”
“With alacrity. They had been mesmerised by Crawthorne. I paid for their drinks and sent them home to their mothers!”
“Crawthorne must have wanted to murder you,”
“I had no idea what I had won until the Steward in the card room informed me that it was Wroxley Priory!”
Charles Kepple threw back his head and lau
