ith an armful of hay to pick over, and no congestion.... Have you
ever felt you wanted to get up and dance?" He turned to Berry.
"Brother, your best. May you spot the winner to-night, as I did this
afternoon."

"Thank you," said Berry, "thank you. I must confess I'd been hoping
for some sort of intuition as to what to do. But I've not had a hint
so far. Perhaps, when I get to the table.... It's silly, of course.
One mustn't expect too much, but I had the feeling that I was going to
be given a tip. You know. Like striking a dud egg, and then putting
your shirt on a horse called 'Attar of Roses.' ... Never mind. Let's
talk about something else. Why did you call him 'Zed'?"

"Short for 'Zero,'" said Jonah. "I think my groom started it, and
I----"

"Zero," said Berry quietly. "I'm much obliged."

* * * * *

It was a quarter to eleven, and Berry had lost one hundred and seventy
pounds.

Across her husband's back Daphne threw me a despairing glance. Upon
the opposite side of the table, Adele and Jill, one upon either side of
Jonah, stared miserably before them. I lighted my tenth cigarette and
wondered what Berry had done....

The table was crowded.

From their points of vantage the eight croupiers alternately did their
business and regarded the assembly with a bored air.

A beautifully dressed American, who had been losing, observed the luck
of her neighbour, a burly Dutchman, with envious eyes. With a
remonstrance in every fingertip, a debonnaire Frenchman was laughingly
upbraiding his fellow for giving him bad advice. From above his
horn-rimmed spectacles an old gentleman in a blue suit watched the
remorseless rake jerk his five pesetas into "the Bank" in evident
annoyance. Cheek by jowl with a dainty Englishwoman, who reminded me
irresistibly of a Dresden shepherdess, a Spanish Jew, who had won, was
explosively disputing with a croupier the amount of his stake. Two
South Americans were leaning across the table, nonchalantly "plastering
the board." A little old lady, with an enormous bag, was thanking an
elegant Spaniard for disposing her stake as she desired. Finger to
lip, a tall Spanish girl in a large black hat was sizing her remaining
counters with a faint frown. A very young couple, patently upon their
honeymoon, were conferring excitedly....

"_Hagan juego, Senores._"

The conference between the lovers became more intense.

"_Esta hecho?_"

"Oh, be q