thousand francs this evening, and at last I have an opportunity of trying
my new system. I am determined to try it now, to-night! No--it is no use
your speaking to me, no use reminding me of any promise I made to you. If
I made such a promise, I mean to break it!"

Sylvia looked round, a good deal concerned. Madame Wachner's face was
red, and she was plainly very angry and put out. But when she saw that
she and her husband had attracted the attention of their English friends,
she made a great effort to regain her self-control and good humour.

"Very well," she said, "Very well, Fritz! Do not speak to me as if I were
an ogress or a dragon. I am your wife; it is my duty to obey you. But I
will not stay to see you lose the good money you have made with the help
of our kind friend, Madame Sylvia. Yes, I will go away and leave you, my
poor Fritz."

And suiting her action to her words, she put her arm familiarly through
Sylvia's and together they walked out of the Baccarat Room, followed by
Chester.

When they were in the vestibule Madame Wachner turned to him with a
rueful smile:

"It is a pity," she said, "that Fritz did not come away with us! 'E 'as
made a thousand francs. It is a great deal of money for us to make--or to
lose. I do not believe 'e will keep it, for, though you bring 'im luck,
my dear"--she turned to Sylvia--"that Count always brings 'im bad luck.
It 'as been proved to me again and again. Just before you arrived at
Lacville with poor Madame Wolsky, Fritz 'ad a 'eavy loss!--a very 'eavy
loss, and all because the Comte de Virieu 'eld the Bank!"

"Perhaps the Count will not hold the Bank again to-night," said Sylvia
slowly.

"Of course, 'e will do so!" the other spoke quite crossly, "Did I not
tell you, Sylvia, that our day servant heard from M. Polperro's wife,
whose sister is cook to the Duchesse d'Eglemont, that the Comte de Virieu
'as been left an immense fortune by 'is godmother? Well, it is a fortune
that will soon melt"--she chuckled, as if the thought was very pleasant
to her. "But I do not think that any of it is likely to melt into Fritz's
pocket--though, to be sure, we 'ave been very lucky, all of us,
to-night," she looked affectionately at Sylvia.

"Even you, Sir"--Madame Wachner turned to Chester with a broad
smile--"even you must be pleased that we came to the Casino to-night.
What a pity it is you did not risk something! Even one pound! You might
'ave made quite a nice lot of money to