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courteously offered to fill the vacant chair； that the game
might not be interrupted。 He was the smaller of the two whom
Tarzan had seen whispering just outside the smoking…room。
It was this fact that aroused a faint spark of interest in
Tarzan； and so as he speculated upon the future he watched
in the mirror the reflection of the players at the table
behind him。 Aside from the man who had but just entered the
game Tarzan knew the name of but one of the other players。
It was he who sat opposite the new player； Count Raoul
de Coude； whom at over…attentive steward had pointed out as
one of the celebrities of the passage； describing him as a
man high in the official family of the French minister of war。
Suddenly Tarzan's attention was riveted upon the picture
in the glass。 The other swarthy plotter had entered； and was
standing behind the count's chair。 Tarzan saw him turn and
glance furtively about the room； but his eyes did not rest for
a sufficient time upon the mirror to note the reflection of
Tarzan's watchful eyes。 Stealthily the man withdrew something
from his pocket。 Tarzan could not discern what the object was；
for the man's hand covered it。
Slowly the hand approached the count； and then； very deftly；
the thing that was in it was transferred to the count's pocket。
The man remained standing where he could watch the
Frenchman's cards。 Tarzan was puzzled； but he was all
attention now； nor did he permit another detail of the
incident to escape him。
The play went on for some ten minutes after this； until
the count won a considerable wager from him who had
last joined the game； and then Tarzan saw the fellow back
of the count's chair nod his head to his confederate。
Instantly the player arose and pointed a finger at the count。
〃Had I known that monsieur was a professional card sharp
I had not been so ready to be drawn into the game；〃 he said。
Instantly the count and the two other players were upon
their feet。
De Coude's face went white。
〃What do you mean； sir？〃 he cried。 〃Do you know to whom
you speak？〃
〃I know that I speak； for the last time； to one who cheats
at cards；〃 replied the fellow。
The count leaned across the table； and struck the man full
in the mouth with his open palm； and then the others closed
in between them。
〃There is some mistake； sir；〃 cried one of the other players。
〃Why； this is Count de Coude； of France。〃
〃If I am mistaken；〃 said the accuser； 〃I shall gladly apologize；
but before I do so first let monsieur le count explain
the extra cards which I saw him drop into his side pocket。〃
And then the man whom Tarzan had seen drop them there
turned to sneak from the room； but to his annoyance he
found the exit barred by a tall； gray…eyed stranger。
〃Pardon；〃 said the man brusquely； attempting to pass to one side。
〃Wait；〃 said Tarzan。
〃But why； monsieur？〃 exclaimed the other petulantly。
〃Permit me to pass； monsieur。〃
〃Wait；〃 said Tarzan。 〃I think that there is a matter in here
that you may doubtless be able to explain。〃
The fellow had lost his temper by this time； and with a low
oath seized Tarzan to push him to one side。 The ape…man
but smiled as he twisted the big fellow about and； grasping
him by the collar of his coat； escorted him back to the table；
struggling； cursing； and striking in futile remonstrance。
It was Nikolas Rokoff's first experience with the muscles that
had brought their savage owner victorious through encounters
with Numa； the lion； and Terkoz； the great bull ape。
The man who had accused De Coude； and the two others who
had been playing； stood looking expectantly at the count。
Several other passengers had drawn toward the scene of the
altercation； and all awaited the denouement。
〃The fellow is crazy；〃 said the count。 〃Gentlemen； I implore
that one of you search me。〃
〃The accusation is ridiculous。〃 This from one of the players。
〃You have but to slip your hand in the count's coat pocket
and you will see that the accusation is quite serious；〃 insisted
the accuser。 And then； as the others still hesitated to do so：
〃Come； I shall do it myself if no other will；〃 and he stepped
forward toward the count。
〃No； monsieur；〃 said De Coude。 〃I will submit to a search
only at the hands of a gentleman。〃
〃It is unnecessary to search the count。 The cards are in
his pocket。 I myself saw them placed there。〃
All turned in surprise toward this new speaker； to behold
a very well…built young man urging a resisting captive toward
them by the scruff of his neck。
〃It is a conspiracy；〃 cried De Coude angrily。 〃There are no
cards in my coat；〃 and with that he ran his hand into his
pocket。 As he did so tense silence reigned in the little group。
The count went dead white； and then very slowly he withdrew
his hand； and in it were three cards。
He looked at them in mute and horrified surprise； and slowly
the red of mortification suffused his face。 Expressions of
pity and contempt tinged the features of those who looked
on at the death of a man's honor。
〃It is a conspiracy； monsieur。〃 It was the gray…eyed stranger
who spoke。 〃Gentlemen；〃 he continued； 〃monsieur le count
did not know that those cards were in his pocket。 They were
placed there without his knowledge as he sat at play。
From where I sat in that chair yonder I saw the reflection of it
all in the mirror before me。 This person whom I just intercepted
in an effort to escape placed the cards in the count's pocket。〃
De Coude had glanced from Tarzan to the man in his grasp。
〃MON DIEU； Nikolas！〃 he cried。 〃You？〃
Then he turned to his accuser； and eyed him intently for a moment。
〃And you； monsieur； I did not recognize you without your
beard。 It quite disguises you； Paulvitch。 I see it all now。
It is quite clear； gentlemen。〃
〃What shall we do with them； monsieur？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃Turn them over to the captain？〃
〃No； my friend；〃 said the count hastily。 〃It is a personal
matter； and I beg that you will let it drop。 It is sufficient
that I have been exonerated from the charge。 The less we have
to do with such fellows； the better。 But； monsieur； how can
I thank you for the great kindness you have done me？
Permit me to offer you my card； and should the time come
when I may serve you； remember that I am yours to command。〃
Tarzan had released Rokoff； who； with his confederate；
Paulvitch； had hastened from the smoking…room。 Just as he
was leaving； Rokoff turned to Tarzan。 〃Monsieur will have
ample opportunity to regret his interference in the affairs
of others。〃
Tarzan smiled； and then； bowing to the count； handed him
his own card。
The count read：
M。 JEAN C。 TARZAN
〃Monsieur Tarzan；〃 he said； 〃may indeed wish that he had
never befriended me； for I can assure him that he has won
the enmity of two of the most unmiti