Page 718 of 896

Besides that all secret men are men soon terrified, here were

surely cards enough of one black suit, to justify the holder in

growing rather livid as he turned them over.

"You scarcely seem to like your hand," said Sydney, with the

greatest composure. "Do you play?"

"I think, sir," said the spy, in the meanest manner, as he turned

to Mr. Lorry, "I may appeal to a gentleman of your years and

benevolence, to put it to this other gentleman, so much your

junior, whether he can under any circumstances reconcile it to

his station to play that Ace of which he has spoken. I admit that

I am a spy, and that it is considered a discreditable

station--though it must be filled by somebody; but this gentleman

is no spy, and why should he so demean himself as to make himself

one?"

"I play my Ace, Mr. Barsad," said Carton, taking the answer on

himself, and looking at his watch, "without any scruple, in a

very few minutes."