o looked up and smiled at them all round the table. By this time
most of those who stood around were looking at him. He was a man
who gathered eyes upon him wherever he might be, or whatever he
was doing; and it had been clear that he was very intent upon
his fortune, and on the last occasion the amount staked had been
considerable. He knew that men and women were looking at him, and
therefore he smiled faintly as he turned his eyes round the table.
Then he got up, and, putting his hands in his trousers pockets,
whistled as he walked away. His companion followed him, and laid a
hand upon his shoulder; but Burgo shook him off, and would not turn
round. He shook him off, and walked on whistling, the length of the
whole salon.

"Alice," said Lady Glencora, "it is Burgo Fitzgerald." Mr Palliser
had gone so deep into that question of German finance that he had not
at all noticed the gambler. "Alice, what can we do for him? It is
Burgo," said Lady Glencora.

Many eyes were now watching him. Used as he was to the world and to
misfortune, he was not successful in his attempt to bear his loss
with a show of indifference. The motion of his head, the position of
his hands, the tone of his whistling, all told the tale. Even the
unimpassioned croupiers furtively cast an eye after him, and a very
big Guard, in a cocked hat, and uniform, and sword, who hitherto
had hardly been awake, seemed evidently to be interested by his
movements. If there is to be a tragedy at these places,--and
tragedies will sometimes occur,--it is always as well that the tragic
scene should be as far removed as possible from the salons, in order
that the public eye should not suffer.

Lady Glencora and Alice had left their places, and had shrunk back,
almost behind a pillar. "Is it he, in truth?" Alice asked.

"In very truth," said Glencora. "What can I do? Can I do anything?
Look at him, Alice. If he were to destroy himself, what should I do
then?"

Burgo, conscious that he was the regarded of all eyes, turned round
upon his heel and again walked the length of the salon. He knew well
that he had not a franc left in his possession, but still he laughed
and still he whistled. His companion, whoever he might be, had slunk
away from him, not caring to share the notoriety which now attended
him.

"What shall I do, Alice?" said Lady Glencora, with her eyes still
fixed on him who had been her lover.

"Tell Mr Palliser," whispered Alice.

Lady Glencora im