The Chink in the Armour

a and Madame Wachner to the door of the Casino. Th

imed in an anxious tone. "But here is your membership

he showed his pleasure in an odd manner. Soon, however, the secret of his angry look was revealed,

ied, gaily. "You can

he did not go too far. No wonder he had looked impatient and eager, as well as cross! He had been engaged-that was clear-i

of the late afternoon to get near enough to a table to play comfo

here, dear, and I will stand behind you. I do not advise you to risk more than twenty francs the first time; on the other hand, if

, slipped into her friend's place

the green table. After doing so she looked up, and saw that the Comte de

ad, smile on his face. As their glances met he leant forward and also put

ites vos jeux, Messieurs, Mesdames!

t of the Count doubled. There were no

appens," whispered Anna. "After all

diently follow

words which she had not yet learnt to underst

watchful suspense on all the eager faces.

d pieces were added to

innings, or someone may claim

t like to do th

rse you

back the eighty francs on the cloth, and smiled up at him; it was a gay little shame-faced smile. "Please don't be c

ple she looked! And-and how very beautiful. He at once loved

the whole of it on thi

un. After all, I'm only risking twe

e more

now," said Anna, with the true gambler's instinct. "But it is clear, child, that you are g

asked and answered the same question. He gave an impercep

e so, for the next deal of t

ery surprising h

ssed the croupier whose duty it was to deal out t

her. A murmur of satisfaction ran round the table, for there lay what even she had learnt

ace, the five and the four, the six and the three-every combina

were turned on the young Englishwoman. Paul de Virie

ed francs," said An

y the advice, but she obeyed it. And sti

ervous and excited-it would be

ontrary, ten napoleons were ad

emed as if the whole table

irst time!"-so the word went round. And they a

d at Sylvia ruefully. Thanks to her, he was being

od fortune, Mrs. Bailey got up and moved away from the table, the

e banker. For the first time a smile i

curious, woolly French, "I would like to embrace you! But I know that English ladies do not

poor banker?" ask

l right. 'E i

llowed her friend's play, but not as soon as

ly. "That is very good for a beginning.

looked at his wi

ames. However, I am glad to say that to-day he soon gave it up

over. "If you had given me more than that hundred fran

an a hundred francs a day-you know how often I've told you that,

the Count had not come up and congratulated her. The thoug

across to the place where she stood. This aloofness gave Sylvia a curious little feeling of disco

laimed Madame Wachner, suddenly. "When l'Ami Fritz 'as

plained to her two new friends, contained the best restaurant in Lacville. The sun was sink

arvellous-to make nearly ￡100 out of a twenty-fran

d ices and cakes at Madame Wachner's expense, Anna Wolsky a

y. "I feel dreadfully tired," and the excitement had inde

rom the tables. In a very few minutes they were joined by the other two, who had by now lost quite enoug

ollowed your play, we should have added to our winnings

really distressed. Anna had ne

ou, dear little friend. No doubt we should all have lost just the same. You know that fortune

have dinner at the Villa d

the short distance from the Casino to the villa, Sylvia

e," she said, "and Madame Wa

ill she came in, and he got so angry and impatient waiting for her! I really felt inclined to lend him a littl

was standing reading a paper. He was dressed for din

imed Anna, in a low, and far from a please

shing uneasily, and quickly she led the way

the door of Sylvia's r

is a worthless individual; he has gambled away two fortunes. And now, instead of working, he is content to live on an allowance made to him by his sister's

eak; and there came over her a feeling of intense satisfaction th

ed Anna she would do so at the restaurant of which the

all through dinner. But the Count, though he again bowed when the two friends came into the din

ut she did not show her the potager. The old kitchen-garden already held

olperro's excellent coffee,

said in a musing voice, "I should have expected him to go to a

ned up coura

the Comte de Virieu is only doing

hed good-

have a big house, or perhaps I should say a small house, for I am not a very rich woman. But no, I like play, and I am free to spend my money as I like. The Comte de Virieu is very differently situated! He is, so I've been told, a clever, cultivated man. He ou

oss as Monsieur Wachner

ably made a fortune in business, and now he and his wife

about their poor friend who was d

an, it appears, was very fond of boating. It was a mysterious affair, because, oddly enough, he had not been out in the town, or even to the Casino, for four days before the accident happened. There was a notion amon

ite a lot of money was found in

e themselves rather unpleasant to Monsieur Wachner. The Russian Embassy made inquiries, and it seemed so odd to t

"Madame Wachner asked me if I had one

hing in a civilised country! But a Russian must always have a passport, it is an absolute law in Russia. And

or Monsieur and Madame Wachne

y he is entirely absorbed in his absurd s

m glad we have got to know them, Anna. It is rather mourn

greed, ind