Rousing myself, as soon as the play was resumed, from the trance of memory by which I had been in some sort absorbed, and first ascertaining that the handles of my pistols were within easy reach--for I knew I was playing a desperate game with desperate men--I rose, stepped carelessly to the door, partially opened it, and bent forward, as if listening for a repetition of the sound which had so alarmed the company. To my great delight the landing and stairs were filled with police-officers--silent and stern as death. I drew back, and walked towards the table at which Mr. Merton was seated. The last stake--an enormous one--was being played for. Merton lost. He sprang upon his feet, death-pale, despairing, overwhelmed, and a hoarse execration surged through his clenched teeth. Sandford and his associates coolly raked the plunder together, their features lighted up with fiendish glee. "Villain!--traitor!--miscreant!" shrieked Mr. Merton, as if smitten with sudden frenzy, and darting at Sandford's throat: "you, devil that you are, have undone, destroyed me!" "No doubt of it," calmly replied Sandford, shaking off his victim's grasp; "and I think it has been very artistically and effectually done too. Snivelling, my fine fellow, will scarcely help you much." Mr. Merton glared upon the taunting villain in speechless agony and rage. "Not quite so fast, _Cardon_, if you please," I exclaimed, at the same time taking up a bundle of forged notes. "It does not appear to me that Mr. Merton has played against equal stakes, for unquestionably this paper is not genuine." "Dog!" roared Sandford, "do you hold your life so cheap?" and he rushed towards me, as if to seize the forged notes. I was as quick as he, and the levelled tube of a pistol sharply arrested his eager onslaught. The entire gang gathered near us, flaming with excitement. Mr. Merton looked bewilderedly from one to another, apparently scarcely conscious of what was passing around him. "Wrench the papers from him!" screamed Sandford, recovering his energy. "Seize him--stab, strangle him!" "Look to yourself, scoundrel!" I shouted with equal vehemence. "Your hour is come! Officers, enter and do your duty!" In an instant the room was filled with police; and surprised, panic-stricken, paralysed by the suddenness of the catastrophe, the gang were all secured without the slightest resistance, though most of them were armed, and marched off in custody.