he has gone to
New York to make our fortune with the system. You see," he continued
with senile cunning, "she has taken away the system, and so I am not
sure whether I can beat you. But make your play, _monsieur_." There
was at least no indecision in the manner in which he set the wheel
spinning.

I did not know what to do. I was fascinated and bewildered by the
situation.

In desperation I thrust a gold-piece upon one of the numbers at the
head of a column. The wheel stopped, and the ball rolled into one of
its compartments. The old man thrust several gold-pieces toward me.

I staked again and again, and won every time. Within five minutes the
whole heap of gold-pieces lay at my side.

The dotard looked at me with an expression of imbecile terror.

"You will give them back to me?" he pleaded. "Remember, _monsieur_, it
was agreed that we should return the money."

I thrust the heap of coins toward him. "Now, M. Duchaine," I said; "in
return for these you will conduct me to Mlle. Jacqueline."

He shook his head as though he had not understood.

"It is very strange," he said. "I do not understand it at all. The
system cannot be at fault; and yet----"

I snatched the paper from his grasp and threw it on the floor, then
pulled him to his feet.

"Enough of this nonsense, M. Duchaine," I said. "Will you conduct me
to Mlle. Jacqueline immediately, or shall I go and find her?"

"I am here, _monsieur_," answered a voice at the door; and I whirled,
to see Jacqueline confronting me.

CHAPTER XIV

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

I took three steps toward her and stood still. For this was
Jacqueline; but it was not _my_ Jacqueline. It might have been
Jacqueline's grandmother when she was a girl--this haughty belle with
her high waist and side curls, and her flounced skirt and aspect of
cold recognition.

She did not stir as I approached her, but stood still, framed in the
door-way, looking at me as though I were an unwelcome stranger. My
outstretched arms fell to my sides. I halted three paces in front of
her. There was no answering welcome on her face, only a cold little
smile that showed she knew me.

"Jacqueline!" I cried. "It is I, Paul! You know me, Jacqueline?"

Jacqueline inclined her head. "Oh, yes; I know you, _monsieur_," she
answered. "Why have you come here?"

"To see you, Jacqueline! To save you, Jacqueline!"

She made me a mocking courtesy. "I am infinitely obliged to you,
_m