r, solemnly carrying a table and a painted board,
which they proceeded to set up in the middle of the room.

Her wonder and curiosity were depicted on her face, for Luard looked at
her quickly and interestedly.

"Don't you know what that is, Mrs. Milbanke?" he asked. "Hasn't Barny
told you of Lady Frances' famous roulette? Lady Frances!" he called,
"come and initiate Mrs. Milbanke!"

At the words, every one turned and looked at Clodagh. And Lord
Deerehurst, with a murmured word to Mrs. Bathurst, rose and came round
the card-table.

"Are you going to tempt the gods?" he asked in his peculiar voice.

Clodagh looked round, a little embarrassed by the general interest.

"Well, I--I suppose I should like to see roulette played," she admitted
guardedly.

He bent his head, and looked at her with his cold, penetrating smile.

"Ah, I see!" he said softly. "Judicious reservations!"

But at that moment Lady Frances crossed the room, and pausing by the
roulette-table, set the ball spinning.

"Come along, people!" she cried gaily. "Fortune smiles!"

They all laughed and strolled across the room.

"Come along!" Lady Frances urged again--"come, Rose!" She smiled at
Mrs. Bathurst. "Unlucky at bridge, lucky at roulette! Come,
Tory!--come, Val!"

She glanced from Luard to Serracauld.

There was another amused laugh, and all the party with the exception of
Clodagh stepped forward and placed one or many coins upon the table.

Lady Frances' eyes were quick to detect the exception. With her fingers
poised above the board, she waited smilingly.

"Won't you stake, Mrs. Milbanke?" she asked.

Clodagh blushed, and stepped back shyly. At the same instant,
Serracauld moved forward to her side.

"Oh, Mrs. Milbanke, but you must!" he cried.

Again confusion covered Clodagh, as all eyes were turned upon her.

"No, please!" she said. "I--I think I'd rather not."

Barnard laughed suavely.

"Mrs. Milbanke is wise!" he said. "She wants to see which way the gods
are pointing."

"Then Mrs. Milbanke is unwise! The gods are jealous beings; we must not
treat them with suspicion. I'll stake for her!"

It was Lord Deerehurst who spoke. And regardless of Clodagh's quick,
half-frightened expostulation, he stepped forward out of the little
circle, and placed a gold coin on the number thirteen. A moment later
Lady Frances gave a short amused laugh, and with a dexterous movement
of the fingers set the ball whizzing.

To Clodagh it was