one at night
Also I began to grasp Preston 's line of action . Disguised as the Earl of Cranmere , who was known to be extremely rich , he had cleverly ingratiated himself with the Gastrells and led them on to think him rather a fool who could easily be gulled . Jack had more than once told me how artfully Preston played his cards when on the track of people he suspected and wished to entrap , so that I could well imagine Preston 's leading the Gastrells on to ensnare him -- as they no doubt supposed they were doing . For that he would not have been admitted to this gambling den -- it evidently became one at night -- unless the Gastrells had believed they could trust him and his friends implicitly , I felt certain . My friends tell me that I am a rather good actor , and Preston 's coaching in Sir Aubrey Belston 's mannerisms and ways of talking had given me a measure of self-confidence . When , therefore -- I had played for a quarter of an hour and won a good deal -- Jasmine Gastrell suddenly addressed me , I did not feel disconcerted . `` I mean to follow your lead , '' she said .