Knaves Read Online Free PDF Page B

Valmont had noticed that look once or twice previously: from anyone else, it would have been nothing noteworthy, but in contrast to the Englishman’s usual demeanour it stood out like a blazing star on Sebastian’s face. It was time, the Marquis decided, for them to continue the conversation alone.
    Without even looking at his hand, he announced blithely: “Why don’t we get down to business, Monsieur Rider? As the banker, I say we raise the stakes. Is fifty thousand agreeable?”
    Only the dealer maintained enough professionalism to remain completely placid. Jeanne Duval was visibly shocked, though she mastered her concern quickly enough, while Sebastian worked hard to prevent himself from gulping. Even Eloise shifted in her seat. The lawyer looked as though he was about to faint, recovering only to quickly excuse himself. Now there were only four, plus the dealer, at the table.
    Between them was a mountain of chips, glistening and hard against the green baize of the table as Sebastian matched Valmont ’s bet. There was a faint glow of perspiration on the Englishman’s brow and Valmont was sure that the diminished pile left in front of him would not be so easily replenished. As the dealer began to present another card, the Marquis let it be known that his cards were sufficient. Without even glancing at his hand, he was sure what the result would be.
    Taking another card, Sebastian laid his out. The six of clubs, the knave of hearts, and a three of spades.
    “Neuf points,” announced the dealer, her broad pallet next to her hands, ready to sweep up the cards once Valmont had revealed his hand. Slowly, he turned over the cards. A five of diamonds and the queen of hearts.
    “ Cinq points,” was the steady declaration.
    “ Congratulations, Monsieur Rider,” Valmont declared. Before the dealer could pull all the cards towards her, however, he lifted the queen between his fingers and stared at it for a second.
    “ Always my favourite card,” he mused. “Such a pity it counts for nothing in Baccarat—but isn’t that always the way. The queen is always treacherous, nearly as much as the knave though you did not trust him this evening.”
    “ No, I didn’t,” said Sebastian, very quietly. Then, shaking his head, he smiled again. There—it was evident once more to Valmont’s searching eyes: that look of piercing intelligence. What was going on here? As he slowly moved his gaze from Sebastian’s face to Jeanne’s the Marquis felt himself stiffening once more. No one else was speaking, as though a collective breath had been caught around the table. Blood surged through Valmont’s veins as he sensed his complete mastery.
    “ Of course,” he mused, “we could play for entirely different stakes, couldn’t we, Monsieur Rider. I intimated as much last night.”
    Now Sebastian couldn ’t control how his throat moved when he swallowed. “Indeed you did,” he replied.
    “ What was it that you intimated, Marquis de Valmont?” asked Jeanne, her eyes moving between Valmont and Eloise as though the latter would ever reveal her master’s plans.
    Valmont smiled broadly, his Saturnine features masking for the moment his devilish intent. “Monsieur Rider and I were idly discussing how very different stakes could be arranged. Not here, of course.” He nodded towards the dealer. “The house would never tolerate it—well, not unless I ensured they received a substantial cut. But I was thinking…” He let the queen drop to the table and pressed his fingertips before his lips as though musing.
    “ Don’t you find it strange,” he said to nobody in particular, “how we would say that someone is willing to lose their shirt? Why, there were times when whole estates would be won and lost at a table like this, when the stakes were not mere cash but the most valuable things a man could possess.”
    “ Such as?” Jeanne Duval was watching him intently now.
    “ Houses, property… all kinds of honour,” he said,