“Too many cards? What do you mean?”
“You have the six spot of spades in your hand.”
“What of it?”
“I started the betting on three sixes. When I quit I threw them into the discards. That makes it seem that there are five sixes in the pack, or, as Arlington claims, you secured one of mine from the discards.”
“Harmford just informed me,” said Steele, “that he had dropped three sixes. Let’s take a look at the discards, gentlemen. If there’s cheating here, we want to know it.”
In spite of himself, Hanks turned pale, for he realized that he was trapped. He sought to hide his dismay and alarm by a great amount of bluster, but Steele sternly commanded him to be silent. The discards were inspected, and only two six spots were discovered among them.
“That settles it,” said Steele, his eyes fastened on Hanks. “This fellow came here without invitation, and he has remained without invitation. He’s a card sharp and a cheat.”
“It isn’t true,” protested Hanks. “There’s a mistake somewhere.”
For the first time Jack Randall spoke.
“That’s right, Hanks,” he said. “There’s a mistake, and you made it. You tried your old trick of cheating, but you overstepped yourself. Gentlemen, this fellow is known at Harvard as a crook. He’s likewise a contemptible blackmailer. Shall we kick him out, Steele? I’d like the pleasure of booting him myself.”