although his heart beat thickly, and he was conscious of an

unpleasant heat in his bosom. The members were all very quiet and

intent; every one was pale, but none so pale as Mr. Malthus. His

eyes protruded; his head kept nodding involuntarily upon his spine;

his hands found their way, one after the other, to his mouth, where

they made clutches at his tremulous and ashen lips. It was plain

that the honorary member enjoyed his membership on very startling

terms.

"Attention, gentlemen!" said the President.

And he began slowly dealing the cards about the table in the

reverse direction, pausing until each man had shown his card.

Nearly every one hesitated; and sometimes you would see a player's

fingers stumble more than once before he could turn over the

momentous slip of pasteboard. As the Prince's turn drew nearer, he

was conscious of a growing and almost suffocating excitement; but

he had somewhat of the gambler's nature, and recognised almost with

astonishment, that there was a degree of pleasure in his

sensations. The nine of clubs fell to his lot; the three of spades

was dealt to Geraldine; and the queen of hearts to Mr. Malthus, who

was unable to suppress a sob of relief. The young man of the cream

tarts almost immediately afterwards turned over the ace of clubs,

and remained frozen with horror, the card still resting on his

finger; he had not come there to kill, but to be killed; and the

Prince in his generous sympathy with his position almost forgot the

peril that still hung over himself and his friend.

The deal was coming round again, and still Death's card had not

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