My heart throbbed and I felt the hot blood surging to my face, and then—do all I might—I could not prevent a lightning glance round, to see who was noticing my embarrassment.
But I need not have worried. I need not have felt the feeling of swift agony that someone was about to find me out.
No one was watching me, no one was looking up. All heads were down and all eyes were glued upon the cards.
"You're an i***t, schoolmaster," said Willoughby off-handedly, and he threw down a king.
"But I'm damned if he is," burst out the doctor vehemently. "I had a secret but it's out now," and with a triumphant flourish he threw down an ace.
We all laughed and without further comment the hand went on. With great relief that no one had seen me I instantly recovered my composure. I could not, however,
