"What do you want? What do you mean by making this monstrous charge? I'll take action for libel!"
"Do," said Wimsey coolly, "if you think anybody is likely to believe your story."
He lit a cigarette, and smiled lazily at the angry young man.
"Well, what's the meaning of it, anyway?"
"The meaning," said Wimsey, "is simply that you, an officer and a member of this club, have been caught red-handed cheating at cards while playing for money, the witnesses being Sir Impey Biggs, Colonel Marchbanks, and myself. Now, I suggest to you, Captain Melville, that your best plan is to let me take charge of Mrs. Ruyslaender's diamond necklace and portrait, and then just to trickle away quiet-like from these halls of dazzlin' light—without any questions asked."
Melville leapt to his feet.
"My God!" he cried. "I can see it now. It's blackmail."
"You may certainly call it blackmail, and theft too," said Lord Peter, with a shrug. "But why use ugly names? I hold five aces, you see. Better chuck in your hand."
"Suppose I say I never heard of the diamonds?"
"It's a bit late now, isn't it?" said Wimsey affably. "But, in that case, I'm beastly sorry and all that, of course, but we shall have to make to-night's business public."