Tonio was playing on his left, with Edward and Viscount Montagne. On his right were Solly and Captain Carter. Micky did not want to win: that was not his purpose tonight. He just wanted Tonio to lose.
He played fair for a while, losing a little of Augusta's money. The others relaxed and ordered another round of drinks. When the time was right, Micky lit a cigar.
In the inside pocket of his dress coat, next to his cigar case, was another deck of cards--bought at the stationer's in St. James's Street where the club's playing cards came from, so that they would match.
He had arranged the extra deck in winning pairs, all giving a total of nine, the highest score: four and five, nine and ten, nine and jack, and so on. The surplus cards, all tens and court cards, he had left at home.
Returning his cigar case to his pocket, he palmed the extra deck; then, picking up the pack from the table with his other hand, he slid the new cards to the bottom of the old pack. While the others mixed their brandy and water he shuffled, carefully bringing to the top of the pack, in order, one card from the bottom, two cards at random, another from the bottom, and another two at random. Then, dealing first to his left, then to his right, then to himself, he gave himself the winning pair.
Next time around he gave Solly's side a winning hand. For a while he continued the same way, making Tonio lose and Solly win. The money he won from Tonio's side was thus paid out to Solly's side, and no suspicion attached to Micky, for the pile of sovereigns in front of him remained about the same.
Tonio had started by putting on the table most of the money he had won at the races--about a hundred pounds. When it was down to about fifty, he stood up and said: 'This side is unlucky--I'm going to sit by Solly.' He moved to the other side of the table.
That won't help you, Micky thought. It was no more difficult to make the left side win and the right side lose from now on. But it made him nervous to hear Tonio talk about bad luck. He wanted Tonio to go on thinking he was lucky today, even while he was losing money.
Occasionally Tonio would vary his style by betting five or ten sovereigns on a hand instead of two or three. When this happened, Micky dealt him a winning hand. Tonio would rake in his winnings and say gleefully: 'I'm lucky today, I'm sure of it!' even though his pile of coins was steadily getting smaller.
Micky was feeling more relaxed now. He studied his victim's mental state while he smoothly manipulated the cards. It was not enough that Tonio should be cleaned out. Micky wanted him to play with money he didn't have, to gamble oh borrowed money and be unable to repay his debts. Only then would he be thoroughly disgraced.
Micky waited with trepidation while Tonio lost more and more. Tonio was awestruck by Micky and would generally do whatever Micky suggested, but he was not a complete fool and there was still a chance he might have the sense to draw back from the brink of ruin.
When Tonio's money was almost gone Micky made his next move. He took out his cigar case again. 'These are from home, Tonio,' he said. 'Try one.' To his relief, Tonio accepted. The cigars were long and would take a good half-hour to smoke. Tonio would not want to leave before finishing his cigar.
When they had lit up Micky moved in for the kill.
A couple of hands later Tonio was broke. 'Well, that's everything I won at Goodwood this afternoon,' he said despondently.
'We ought to give you a chance to win it back,' Micky said. 'Pilaster will lend you a hundred pounds, I'm sure.'
Edward looked a little startled, but it would have seemed ungenerous to refuse when he had such a big pile of winnings in front of him, and he said: 'By all means.'
Solly intervened. 'Perhaps you should retire, Silva, and be grateful that you've had a great day's gambling at no cost.'
Micky silently cursed Solly for being a good-natured nuisance. If Tonio did the sensible thing now the whole scheme was ruined.
Tonio hesitated.
Micky held his breath.
But it was not in Tonio's nature to gamble prudently, and as Micky had calculated, he could not resist the temptation to carry on. 'All right,' he said. 'I might as well play on until I finish my cigar.'
Micky let out a discreet sigh of relief.
Tonio beckoned to a waiter and ordered pen, paper and ink. Edward counted out a hundred sovereigns and Tonio scribbled an IOU. Micky knew that if Tonio lost all that he could never repay the debt.
The game went on. Micky found himself sweating a little as he held the delicate balance, ensuring that Tonio lost steadily, with the occasional big win to keep him optimistic. But this time when he was down to fifty pounds he said: 'I only win when I gamble high. I'm putting the lot on this next hand.'
It was a big bet even for the Cowes Club. If Tonio lost he was finished. One or two club members saw the size of the stake and stood near the table to watch the play.
Micky dealt the cards.
He looked at Edward, on the left, who shook his head to indicate that he did not want another card.
On the right, Solly did the same.
Micky turned over his own cards. He had given himself an eight and an ace, making nine.
Edward turned over the hand on the left. Micky did not know what the cards were: he knew in advance what he himself was going to get, but he dealt the others at random. Edward had a five and a two, making seven. He and Captain Carter had lost their money.
Solly turned over his hand, the cards on which Tonio had staked his future.
He had a nine and a ten. That made nineteen, which counted as nine. This equaled the bank's score, so there was no winner or loser, and Tonio got to keep his fifty pounds.
Micky cursed under his breath.
He wanted Tonio to leave those fifty sovereigns on the table now. He gathered up the cards quickly. With a mocking note into his voice he said: 'Going to reduce your stake, Silva?'
'Certainly not,' said Tonio. 'Deal the cards.'
Micky thanked his stars and dealt, giving himself another winning hand.
This time Edward tapped his cards, indicating that he wanted a third. Micky dealt him a four of clubs and turned to Solly. Solly passed.
Micky turned over his cards and showed a five and a four. Edward had a four showing, and turned over a worthless king and another four, making eight. His side had lost.
Solly turned up a two and a four, making six. The right side had also lost to the banker.
And Tonio was ruined.
He turned pale and looked ill, and muttered something that Micky recognized as a Spanish curse.
Micky suppressed a smile of triumph and raked in his winnings--then he saw something that took his breath away and stopped his heart with dread.
There were four fours of clubs on the table.
