West.

He stood still, scanning the boy's face with pitiless eyes. Archie
writhed impotently.

"I can't stand it!" he said, with vehemence. "I thought I was blackguard
enough to let you do it. But--no doubt I'm a fool, as you say--I find I
can't."

"You can't help yourself," said West. He planted himself squarely in
front of Archie. "Listen to this!" he said. "You know what I am?"

"They say you are a detective," said Archie.

West nodded.

"Exactly. And, as such, I do whatever suits my purpose without
explaining why to the rest of the world. If you are fortunate enough to
glean a little advantage from what I do, take it, and be quiet about it.
Don't hamper me with your acknowledgments. I assure you I have no more
concern for your ultimate fate than those fellows below that you've been
swindling all the evening. One thing I will say, though, for your
express benefit. You will never make a good, even an indifferently good,
gambler. And as to card-sharping, you've no talent whatever. Better give
it up."

His blue eyes looked straight at Archie with a stare that was openly
supercilious, and Archie stood abashed.

"You--you are awfully good," he stammered at length.