Sanders shook himself free, and aimed a heavy blow at Lisle; who, however, stepped aside and, before he could repeat it, he was seized by the officers standing round. A tremendous hubbub arose, in the midst of which the colonel entered the room.
"What is all this about?" he enquired.
The din subsided at once, and two or three officers said:
"Bullen accused Captain Sanders of cheating."
"This is a very serious accusation, Bullen," the colonel said sternly, "and unless you can substantiate it, may be of very serious consequences to yourself. Will you tell me what you saw?"
Lisle related the circumstances, and how the fraud was accomplished.
"You mean to say that, by watching the dealer's eye, Captain Sanders leaves one pound or five on his card?"
"That is what I said, sir. I have seen him do it on several nights. Tonight I determined to expose him, and Tritton, Lindsay, and Holmes have been watching him with me. I was induced to do so by the fact that the man has rooked Lieutenant Gordon of something like fifteen hundred pounds, for which he holds his chits."
"Mr. Tritton, you hear what Mr. Bullen says. Have you also observed the act of cheating of which he accuses Captain Sanders?"
"Yes, sir; I have seen him do it several times this evening. I believe he has done it more, but I am prepared to swear to seven times."