I do not play, and would not do so
in any circumstances, this place has not much interest for me."

"I can hardly imagine," said Ensign Darrin, gravely, "that I shall
ever bother to pay a second visit here."

"It's a good deal of a bore," yawned Lieutenant Totten, behind his
hand. "I am glad to note that most of the people here look like
Europeans. I should hate to believe that many Americans could be
foolish enough to come here."

At that moment a stout, red-faced man rose from a table near by, his
voice booming as he laughed:

"I have lost only sixteen thousand francs. I shall be sure to come
back and have my revenge. In Chicago my signature is good at any time
for a million dollars--for five million francs!"

Many eyes, followed this speaker wistfully. With such wealth as his
how many months of frenzied pleasure they might have at Monte Carlo!

"One American idiot, at least," muttered Totten, in disgust. "Or else
he's a liar or braggart."

Madly the play went on, the faces of the players growing more flushed
as the hour grew later.

Totten moved along with a bored air.

"I guess he's going," said Dan. "I don't blame him for being tired of
the place. It's like a human menagerie."

"We'll go, then," agreed Dave. "Surely I have seen enough of the
Casino. I shall never care to revisit it."

"Ah, here you are, my dear fellows!" exclaimed a musical voice. "And
the Countess Ripoli has asked me to present you to her. She is eager
to know if you American officers are as wonderful as I have told her."

The speaker was Dandelli, a handsome, boyish-looking, frank-faced
young Italian naval officer with whom Darrin and Dalzell had become
acquainted at Gibraltar.

The Countess Ripoli, to whom Dandelli now presented the two young
ensigns, was a woman in the full flower of her beauty at twenty-five
or so. Tall, willowy, with a perfect air, her wonderful eyes, in which
there was a touch of Moorish fire, were calculated to set a young
man's heart to beating responses to her mood. Attired in the latest
mode of Paris, and wearing only enough jewels to enhance her great
beauty, the Countess chose to be most gracious to the young ensigns.
Dave thought her a charming young woman; Dan Dalzell nearly lost his
head.

From a distance Emil Gortchky looked on, a quiet smile gleaming in his
eyes.

"Dandelli is a fool, who will do any pretty woman's bidding," mused
the spy. "Madame Ripoli can play with him. Also I believe she wi