94i THE SILVER FOX 



given her life its first touch of passion. He 

 finished his glass of burgundy, and took a 

 cigarette from the silver box that his hostess 

 pushed towards him. 



" We'll play bezique in the 'bus," pursued 

 Lady Susan ; *^ we couldn't possibly talk for 

 six miles. I should go to sleep." 



" Oh, heavens, not more cards ! " groaned 

 Bunbury. " Do you know. Miss Morris, 

 that she made me play rubicon bezique with 

 her for three hours on end this afternoon. 

 I'd hardly got my boots off when she sent 

 William to hurry me down. I wish she'd 

 teach William to play with her." 



" I used to play * Spoilt Five ' with the 

 yard boys when I was a child," said Slaney. 

 " I never aspired to any one as grand as 

 William. We used to play secretly in an 

 old loose box, and the cards were so black 

 that we only knew them by private marks 

 on their backs." 



Her eyes were clear and half shy, like a 

 boy's. Bunbury looked at her delicate, 

 clever hand, and tried to imagine it holding 



