Higher and higher rose the stakes, till a very considerable sum had passed into his hands, and, handsome though Shafto's quarterly allowance from his 'grandfather,' paid duly by Mr. Kippilaw, he could not help the lengthening of his visage, and the growing pallor of it, while his shifty eyes rolled about in his anxiety and anger; and Lord Fettercairn and young Kippilaw, who were present, looked on--the former with some annoyance, and the latter with amused interest. Quite suddenly, Kippilaw exclaimed: 'Hey--what the deuce is this? Captain Hammersley, you have dropped a card.' And he picked one up from that officer's side, and laid it on the table. 'The ace of spades! By heaven, you have _already_ played that card!' exclaimed Shafto, with fierce triumph. 'It is not mine!' said Hammersley, hotly. 'Whose, then?' 'How the devil should I know?' asked Hammersley, eyeing him firmly. 'Your luck has been marvellous, but not so much so when we know that you play with double aces,' said Shafto, throwing down his cards and starting from the table, as the other did, now pallid with just rage. 'Would you dare to insinuate?' began the officer, in a hoarse tone. 'I insinuate nothing; but the disgraceful fact speaks for itself; and I think you have been quite long enough among us in Craigengowan,' he added, coarsely. Vivian Hammersley was pale as death, and speechless with rage. He thought first of Finella and then of his own injured honour; and we know not what turn this episode might have taken had not Lord Fettercairn, who, we have said, had been quietly looking on from a corner, said gravely, sharply, and even with pain, as he started forward: 'Shafto! I saw you drop _that card_, where Mr. Kippilaw picked it up--drop it, whether purposely or not I do not say--but drop it you did.' 'Impossible, sir!' 'It is _not_ impossible,' said the peer, irately; 'and I am not blind or liable to make mistakes; and you too manifestly did so; whence this foul accusation of a guest in my own house--a gentleman to whom you owe a humble and most complete apology.' Shafto was speechless with rage and baffled spite at the new and sudden turn his scheme had taken, and at being circumvented in his own villainy. 'My Lord Fettercairn, from my soul I thank you!' said Hammersley, drawing himself up proudly, looking greatly relieved in mind, and, turning next to Shafto, evidently waited for the suggested apology. But in that he was disappointed, as the 'heir' of Fettercairn turned abruptly on his heel and left the room, leaving his lordship to make the _amende_, which he did in very graceful terms.