a very practical apprenticeship there as a paid
companion, and her knowledge of colloquial French beat theirs to a
standstill. It became increasingly difficult to keep under their
collective wings a person who knew what she wanted and was able to ask
for it and to see that she got it. Also, as far as Roger was
concerned, they drew Dieppe blank; it turned out that he was staying at
Pourville, a little watering-place a mile or two further west. The
Brimley Bomefields discovered that Dieppe was too crowded and
frivolous, and persuaded the old lady to migrate to the comparative
seclusion of Pourville.

"'You won't find it dull, you know,' they assured her; 'there is a
little casino attached to the hotel, and you can watch the people
dancing and throwing away their money at PETITS CHEVAUX.'

"It was just before PETITS CHEVAUX had been supplanted by BOULE.

"Roger was not staying in the same hotel, but they knew that the casino
would be certain of his patronage on most afternoons and evenings.

"On the first evening of their visit they wandered into the casino
after a fairly early dinner, and hovered near the tables. Bertie van
Tahn was staying there at the time, and he described the whole incident
to me. The Brimley Bomefields kept a furtive watch on the doors as
though they were expecting some one to turn up, and the aunt got more
and more amused and interested watching the little horses whirl round
and round the board.

"'Do you know, poor little number eight hasn't won for the last
thirty-two times,' she said to Christine; 'I've been keeping count. I
shall really have to put five francs on him to encourage him.'

"'Come and watch the dancing, dear,' said Christine nervously. It was
scarcely a part of their strategy that Roger should come in and find
the old lady backing her fancy at the PETITS CHEVAUX table.

"'Just wait while I put five francs on number eight,' said the aunt,
and in another moment her money was lying on the table. The horses
commenced to move round, it was a slow race this time, and number eight
crept up at the finish like some crafty demon and placed his nose just
a fraction in front of number three, who had seemed to be winning
easily. Recourse had to be had to measurement, and the number eight
was proclaimed the winner. The aunt picked up thirty-five francs.
After that the Brimley Bomefields would have had to have used concerted
force to get her away from the tables. When Roger appea