Fisher did not answer him. He struck him instead a sounding blow on the
shoulder, and Charlie turned away satisfied. He had played a difficult
game with considerable skill. That it had been a losing game did not at
the moment enter into his calculations. He had not played for his own
stakes.


IX

"Jove! It's a wild night," said Archie Croft comfortably, as he
stretched out his legs to the smoking-room fire. "What's become of
Charlie? He doesn't usually retire early."

"I don't believe he has retired," said Bertie Richmond sleepily. "I saw
him go out something over an hour ago."

"Out?" said Croft. "What on earth for?"

"Up to some fool trick or other, no doubt," said Fisher from the
smoking-room sofa.

"Hullo, Fisher! I thought you were asleep," said Bertie. "You ought to
be. It's after midnight. Time we all turned in if we mean to start early
with the guns to-morrow."

Croft stretched himself and rose leisurely.

"It's a positively murderous night!" he remarked, strolling to the
window. "There must be a tremendous sea."