"`Absolutely,' I replied. `I may say it is Hobson's choice. I am heavily in debt. If I cut my wants down to next to nothing, it will take me a year to pay off what I owe.' I laughed bitterly--`Unless I turned thief, I could not possibly go on.' "`I don't want to force your confidence,' was Lord Frederick's next remark. `But having had a taste of this rather glittering world, I presume you will leave it with considerable regret.' "`I dare not say what I feel,' I said with conviction. `It seems to me that in the old life to which I am returning I shall suffer the tortures of lost souls.' "Then he shot at me an extraordinary question. `I wonder whether you would care to become a partner in my business?' "My heart suddenly grew light. Was there a chance that I could still keep on, that through his assistance I could find a decently paid occupation? After all, I only wanted a few hundreds a year more. A bachelor can live in the best society on comparatively little, but he must have that little, and the insurance office did not furnish it. "`If I were competent enough,' I faltered. "He smiled; I thought there was a little touch of a sneer in that smile. `Oh, I think you would be competent enough. But I am not at all sure that you would like the business sufficiently.' "`I can't say positively, of course, till I know the nature of it. But I don't think I should be very difficult to please, nor do I want any extravagant remuneration, just enough to keep up a decent appearance.' "`The share would be half, neither more nor less,' he said curtly; then he relapsed into a long silence, as if he were thinking very hard. "When he spoke it was in a low, strained voice. `Look here, Esmond, I don't know very much of you. But I believe you to be a gentleman. The business I am engaged in is a very peculiar one, and it is more than probable it will not appeal to you. If you refuse, you are to give me your word of honour that this conversation between us shall be forgotten.' "I gave him more than my word, I added my solemn oath that I would never divulge a syllable. "I had for some little time felt that there was a mystery about him. I hazarded to myself that he was perhaps engaged in some spying work repugnant to any man of fine susceptibilities but quite remunerative. "I was startled, and to an extent horrified, by what he told me. He was a professional card-sharper, made his living by robbing his rich acquaintances. He had been at the game since he was twenty-five.