"And it's marked," said Aurora. "I believe Hay's got cards up his sleeve. Examine the cards."
Hay, very pale, but still keeping his countenance, tried to object, but the two young men seized and held him, while Miss Qian, with a dexterity acquired in detective circles, rapidly searched his pockets.
"Here's another pack," she cried, and shook an ace and two kings out of the detected swindler's sleeve, "and these cards—"
Sandal took one and went to the lamp. "Marked, by Jove!" he cried, but with a stronger oath; "here's a pin-prick."
"You are mistaken," began Hay, quite pale.
"No," said Tempest, coolly, "we're not. Miss Qian told us you cheated, and we laid a trap for you. You've been trying this double card and marked card dodge several times this very evening."
"And he's tried it lots of times before," said Aurora, quickly. "I have been at several places where Hay scooped the pool, and it was all cheating."
"If it was," said Hay, with quivering lips, "why didn't you denounce me then and there?"
"Because I denounce you now," she said; "you're cooked, my man. These boys will see that the matter is made public."
"By Jove, yes!" cried Sandal, with a look of abhorrence at Hay, "and I'll prosecute you to get back those thousands you won off me."