Devil's Dice by William le Queux

While in the Club that afternoon the page-boy handed me a card, uttering the stereotyped phrase, "Gentleman to see you, sir."

I took it, and, to my surprise, found it was Markwick's. When he entered, a few moments later, he was wearing a crimson flower in the button-hole of his grey frock-coat, and carrying his cane with a jaunty air. His swift glance ran round the room, to assure himself that we were alone, as he greeted me with an air of gay nonchalance.