“Madame,” said De Griers confidentially, “ les chances peuvent tourner. Une seule mauvaise chance, et vous perdrez tout⁠—surtout avec votre jeu. C’était terrible! ”

“ Oui; vous perdrez absolument ,” put in Mlle. Blanche.

“What has that got to do with you ?” retorted the old lady. “It is not your money that I am going to lose; it is my own. And where is that Mr. Astley of yours?” she added to myself.

“He stayed behind in the Casino.”

“What a pity! He is such a nice sort of man!”