But why am I to go back to London ?" "Because to stay here would be ruin and disgrace to you; because the tie that links you to Horatio Paget must be cut at any hazard." "But why ?" "For the best or worst of reasons.

Your father has been trying a trick to-night which has been hitherto so infallible, that I suppose he had grown careless as to his execution of it.

Or perhaps he took a false measure of the man he was playing with.

In any case, he has been found out, and has been arrested by the police." "Arrested, for cheating at cards!" exclaimed the girl, with a look of unspeakable disgust and horror.

Valentine's arm was ready to support her, if she had shown any symptom of fainting; but she did not.