Bright was a whist player, and immediately brought a pack from a remote corner of the room and put it into Griggs’ hands.
“Now—there’s no deception, as the conjurers say,” he began, with a laugh, looking first at Katharine, and then at Wingfield, as the strong man of the party. “Perhaps you can do it, Mr. Wingfield?” he added.
“What? Tricks with cards? No—I’m not good at that sort of thing.”
“Well—it isn’t exactly a trick. I’m going to tear the pack in two. Did you ever see it done?”
“No,” answered Wingfield, incredulously. “I’ve heard of it—but I don’t believe it’s possible, if you tear it fairly.”
“Is this fair? Have I got a fair hold on them?”
“Yes—that’s all right. I don’t believe anybody can do it that way.”
“Well—look.”
Griggs set his teeth a little as he made the effort, and the furrows in the weather-beaten face deepened a little, but that was all. The sinews stood out on the backs of his hands for a few seconds, and his hands moved, the one downwards, the other up. The pack was torn clean in two.
“By Jove!” exclaimed Bright. “I never saw that done.”