“Don’t trouble yourself. I shall run no risk. You get him to play, then leave the rest to me. Within a week the money shall be yours. What do you think of the suggestion of making him defray the cost of his own misfortune, eh?” he asked, laughing.
“Decidedly ingenious, but it won’t work!” shouted a voice in English, causing them to start.
There was a rustling among the thick bushes behind them, and next second Jack Egerton emerged into the path.
“Why are you here, spying upon us?” demanded Pierre, springing to his feet, and assuming a threatening attitude.
“Merely for my own information,” replied the artist, with perfect sang-froid.
“Then, I hope you have obtained the knowledge you desire,” Valérie said, her eyes flashing angrily.
“I have ascertained the depth of your vile scheme, if that is what you mean,” he cried. “You little thought I should keep observation upon your movements. For a fortnight I’ve been watching you in Brussels as closely as a cat watches a mouse. The ingenious tricks I learned under your tuition stood me in good stead, and I have now seen your duplicity, and discovered the extent of your infamy. You are playing the old game, the—”
“My affairs do not concern you!” she cried, stamping her foot angrily.
“My friend’s interests are my own.”
“Your friend—bah!”