And his voice shook a little. "I don't
wonder you won't speak to me. But there are some things that can't be
left unsaid. I'm going down now, at once, to tell those fellows what
actually happened."
"Then you are going to make a big fool of yourself to no purpose," said
West.
He stood still, scanning the boy's face with pitiless eyes. Archie
writhed impotently.
"I can't stand it!" he said, with vehemence. "I thought I was blackguard
enough to let you do it. But--no doubt I'm a fool, as you say--I find I
can't."
"You can't help yourself," said West. He planted himself squarely in
front of Archie. "Listen to this!" he said. "You know what I am?"
"They say you are a detective," said Archie.
West nodded.
"Exactly. And, as such, I do whatever suits my purpose without
explaining why to the rest of the world. If you are fortunate enough to
glean a little advantage from what I do, take it, and be quiet about it.
Don't hamper me with your acknowledgments. I assure you I have no more
concern for your ultimate fate than those fellows below that you've been
swindling all the evening. One thing I will say, though, for your
express benefit. You will never make a good, even an indifferently good,
gambler. And as to card-sharping, you've no talent whatever. Better give
it up."
His blue eyes looked straight at Archie with a stare that was openly
supercilious, and Archie stood abashed.
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