He saw a mere youth win fifteen thousand francs, which were
stolen in the most barefaced mariner by a rouged girl scarcely
older than the youth; he saw two old gamesters stake their coins,
and lose, and walk quietly out of the place; he saw the bank win
fifty thousand francs at a single turn.
'This is rather good fun,' he said at length, 'but the stakes are too
small to make it really exciting. I'll try my luck, just for the
experience. I'm bound to win.'
'Why?' asked the Prince.
'Because I always do, in games of chance,' Racksole answered with
gay confidence. 'It is my fate. Then to-night, you must remember, I
shall be a beginner, and you know the tyro's luck.'
In ten minutes the croupier of that table was obliged to suspend
operations pending the arrival of a further supply of coin.
'What did I tell you?' said Racksole, leading the way to another
table further up the room. A hundred curious glances went after
him. One old woman, whose gay attire suggested a false
youthfulness, begged him in French to stake a five-franc piece for
her. She offered him the coin. He took it, and gave her a
hundred-franc note in exchange. She clutched the crisp rustling
paper, and with hysterical haste scuttled back to her own table.
At the second table there was a considerable air of excitement. In
the forefront of the players was a woman in a low-cut evening
dress of black silk and a large red picture hat.
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