My concern was to watch its effect upon the other members
of the party. Ernest, on my left, doubled up with laughter, and
tittered and shook for several minutes. My other neighbor, more
impressionable by temperament, winced first, and then worked himself
into a state of enthusiasm which culminated in an assault upon his
shirt-cuff with a joiner's pencil. Kingsmill, Q.C., beaming
tranquilly on Raffles, seemed the one least impressed, until he spoke.
"I am glad to hear that," he remarked in a high bland voice. "I
thought that man would die game."
"Did you know anything about him, then?" inquired Lord Thornaby.
"I led for the Crown," replied the barrister, with a twinkle. "You
might almost say that I measured the poor man's neck."
The point must have been quite unpremeditated; it was not the less
effective for that. Lord Thornaby looked askance at the callous silk.
It was some moments before Ernest tittered and Parrington felt for
his pencil; and in the interim I had made short work of my hock,
though it was Johannisberger. As for Raffles, one had but to see
his horror to feel how completely he was off his guard.
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