everything has been getting on my nerves for the last few days, and
my luck seems dead out."

She looked at him curiously. She was past middle age, and her face
showed signs of the wear and tear of life. But she still had fine
eyes, and the rejuvenating arts of Bond Street had done their best
for her.

"What is the matter, Nigel?" she asked. "Have the cards been going
against you?"

He frowned and hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Ena," he said, "between us two there is an ancient bargain, and
that is that we should tell the truth to one another. I will tell
you what it is that is worrying me most. I have suspected it for
some time, but this afternoon it was absolutely obvious. There is a
sort of feeling at the club. I can't exactly describe it, but I am
conscious of it directly I come into the room. For several days I
have scarcely been able to get a rubber. This afternoon, when I cut
in with Harewood and Mildmay and another fellow, two of them made
some sort of an excuse and went off. I pretended not to notice it,
of course, but there it was. The thing was apparent, and it is the
very devil!"

Again she looked at him closely.

"There is nothing tangible?" she asked. "No complaint, or scandal,
or anything of that sort?"