Arthur Aldington was there, but Cecil Jones was not. And the time passed much as it had passed on the occasion of Gerard’s last visit until quite late in the evening, when suddenly, while Gerard was sitting in the music-room, with Arthur, listening to Cora’s exquisite singing, a man’s voice rang out through the adjoining room, and that in which they were, from the room devoted to card-playing, which was the furthest away of all.
“I say that you’re not playing fair! I say that I’ve been cheated!”
It was the voice of Sir William Gurdon, and upon the last word they all heard his fist come down with a loud crash upon the table.
CHAPTER XIX
Upon Gerard the sounds of the disturbance came with a curious sense of something long expected having come to pass. He scarcely felt so much as a slight shock of surprise.
Being, therefore, in a condition to notice things, he looked round him at the various faces in the music-room, and noted the effect the noise had upon his companions.
Cora, who was singing at the piano to her own accompaniment, stopped short with a low cry, and covered her face with her hands.
Arthur who was standing beside her, grew red and indignant, and called Sir William by several uncomplimentary names.
Lady Sylvia and Delia, who were talking on a sofa, looked at each other in horror, and rose, as if uncertain what to do.
Two men whom Gerard had previously seen at the Priory, and who were staying in the music-room to listen to Cora’s singing in the intervals of poker, muttered something to each other in an undertone, and promptly went to the scene of the disturbance.