Staunton nodded; speech was beyond his power. "Now," continued Hugh, lighting a cigarette, "this sudden necessity for me to go East has upset her plan. I can’t wait for those few weeks of test, and so we are confronted with a difficulty. I feel that it is not fair to keep her from you for a year or possibly longer; on the other hand, I feel that it is rather hard luck on me to relinquish her without a struggle. You said, Mr. Staunton? Sorry; I thought you spoke." He flicked the ash off his cigarette, and, crossing the room, he opened a bureau on the other side. "And so I’ve evolved a plan," he remarked, coming back again with a pack of cards in his hand. "A time-honoured method of settling things where there are two alternatives, and one which I suggest can be used with advantage here. We will each cut a card, Mr. Staunton. If I win, Delia comes East with me—on the clear understanding, my dear, that you may leave me at any moment and return to Mr. Staunton. I wouldn’t like you to think for an instant that I am proposing to deprive you of your absolute free will whichever way the cards go. If I lose, on the other hand, I go East alone, and the necessary information to enable you to institute divorce proceedings will be sent you as soon as possible." His wife rose quickly, and stood in front of him, "I’ll come East with you, Hugh—anyway, for a time. It’s only fair." "Quite," agreed Staunton. "It’s only fair." "Not at all," remarked Massingham, decidedly. "I wouldn’t dream of accepting such a sacrifice. It’s a totally different matter if I win it at cards: then I shall hold you to it. Otherwise I go East alone. I have, I think, a certain say in the matter, and my mind is made up." He turned to Staunton, who was staring at him open-mouthed: then he glanced at Delia, and she, for the first time, was looking at Jimmy Staunton. "I suppose," he remarked, suddenly, "that I’m not making any mistake? You do wish to marry Delia, don’t you, Mr. Staunton?" For a moment that gentleman seemed to find difficulty in speaking. Then—"Of course," he muttered. "Of course." "Good!" said Massingham. "Then we’ll cut. Ace low—low wins." He put the pack on a small table by the other man: then he turned away. "Cut—please." "But, Hugh," his wife laid her hand on his arm, "it’s impossible—it’s——" "Not at all, Delia. It’s all quite simple. Have you cut?" "I’ve cut the King of Hearts." Staunton was standing up. "So it looks as if I lose." His voice seemed hardly to indicate that the blow had prostrated him. Massingham turned round, while his wife’s breath came sharply.