The Return of Tarzan | Page 6

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