THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, JULY 8, 1988
THE ACE OF DEATH
(Continued from Pane.
On that point also I speedily came to a decision. The next morn- ing, after a more or less sleepless night, I phoned Anton and made an appointment to see him at his own flat.
I cannot tell how dreadful I felt when I went there and receiv- ed his warm greeting. Obviously he had not the slightest suspicion that I knew...
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I did not leave him long in ig- norance! I came straight to the point, with a brutal directness
which was, however, the best and kindest way.
"Anton," I said, very gravely. "I know you for what you are- #professional card-sharper! 1 detected you working in Brussels, a fortnight ago, and again last night!"
་ . The blood rushed into his face, and then died away again, leaving him deathly pale. He hesitated, looking me in the eyes, and then, with a hopeless sort of shrug, said:
"Well? What then?"
"Just this," I answered. "You cannot marry Adela-it is impos- sible."
his lip. Then he demanded:
"What is it to do with you, Herr Thomas ?”
.
"I will tell you!" I answered, more gently. · And I did so, ex- pluining my position And scruples with great care.
The truth was that I liked this young fellow, and I was deeply, sorry for him, for I was convinced that his love for Adela, at any rate, was genuine.
When I had finished, he nod- ded slowly:
"You are quite right,” he said in a low tone. "I do not see how you could act otherwise. But first, will you hear my story-the truth ?"
I assented, and he told his story. I was an old and com- monplace one-the younger cadet of a wealthy and aristocratic family. Extravagant tastes; no profession; an inadequate income. A fatal taste for gambling, and an even more.fatal facility with. cards. Association with
&
scoundrel who used his name to attract victims, and taught him how to "frame" the cards. And, finally, working on his own. .....! He concluded with an almost frenzied appeal:
"Herr Thomas, as God is my
A glint--the glint of the fight- judge, I love Adela truly and er-came into his eyes:
"Who will stop me?"
"I will! Unless you tell Adela the truth, I myself will do so!"
He frowned, and nervously bit
sincerely. And already I had given up my-my business! That night in Brussels, when you saw me, was to have been the last time. That was why I didn't want to play last night-but
4
but
when I did, the temptation was too much for me! But I will never do it again, I swear it."
I shook my hend sadly: "I believe you, Anton, has happened once, it will hap- pen again! Nothing you can any will be of any i use this marriage must not take place!"
He looked at me as a condemn- ed murderer might look at his judge when sentence is pros nounced.
"Very Well!" he said, at last. "But I will ask you one favour, if I may?"
"What is it?".
"Give me twenty-four hours before you say, or do, anything, I-I want to see Adela again, on the old footing, and I want to make up my mind as to the best way of doing what has to be done! Grant me this, Herr Thomas, and I swear that I will not let you down.
What could I do? I did not altogether like it, but, on the other hand, I could not see what harm it would do. So I agreed. He took out his watch and glanced at it:
"It is now just twelve o'clock!" he said. "So you are giving me until noon to-morrow?”--
I nodded my head, and then, on a sudden impulse, I extended my hand:
"Quite honestly, Anton,” said, "I am sorry.
"}
Then I left him. I am glad, now, that I made that last ges- ture.
The day passed, rather miser- ably for me. I avoided Adela and our other friends, and pass- ed away the time as best I could.
་
Nor did I sleep well again that night.
The following morning, just as I had finished dressing, an en- velope was brought up to me. It had been delivered by hand.
When I opened It I found that it contained the Ace of Spades, and scribbled across the face of it: "This will tell you that i have kept my word, and have not let you down. Anton."
I was too much puzzled by this extraordinary communication. Still, I had to keep my word, and so fidgeted around until noon. In the meantime I had a word with an acquaintance:
?
"Can you tell me," I asked, with apparent carelessness, "what significance, if any, is at- tached to the Ace of Spades?"
"None, so far as I know~ except that I believe fortune tell- ers regard it as the Death Card!"
A sudden fear seized me. It was then close upon noon, I hur- ried round to Adela's house, and arrived on the stroke.
There was a long pause after
I had rung, and then the door , was opened by a tragic looking
maid-servant:
see no- "A-terrible
"The Fraulein can body," she told me. thing has happened. Herr An- ton fell accidentally in front of a train this morning, and was killed!"
And it was not till then that I fully understood the significance of that Ace of Spades.
He had chosen his own way out. Candidly, all things con- sidered, it was probably the best way.
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