Zibeline - Volume 1

some ill turns of luck; nevertheless, feeling that h

him up?" asked Co

rolles, who had ret

r him, the next hand was disastrous. The stakes were increased, and the bank was broken several times, when Paul Landry, profi

ed in his vain battle against ill-luck, until at three o'clock in the morning, control

e, gentlemen, ho

d ninety thousand francs, of which two hundred and sixty thousand in cheques

am ashamed to win such a sum from you. If you wish to seek y

r to spare, and, not more for the purpose of "playing to the gallery" tha

le to you to play s

onsieur. How

if that is

about to propose

the assembly, and a circle was formed arou

ll and prudence. Immediately his opponent, still believing that good luck must return to him, began to neglect the smaller points in order to make telling strokes, but he became stranded at the very port of success, as it were; so that, deducting the amount of his first winning, he found at the end of the fifth hand that he had lost six thousand points. Notwithstanding his wonderful self-control, it was not without difficulty that the young officer preserved a calm demeanor under the severe blows dealt him by Fortune. Paul Landry, always master of himself, lowered his eyes that their expression of greedy and merciless joy should not be seen. The nearer the game drew to its conclusion, the closer presse

hundred and forty thousand francs. Henri became very pale, but, summoning all his pride to meet the glances of the curious, he arose, rang a bell, and called for a pen and a sheet of stamped paper. Then, turning to Paul La

s you wish

you. I as

ed, bringing th

l be sufficient fo

ows what may happen. I insist that you shall

he w

aul Landry the sum of four hundred thousand francs, which

it to Paul Landry. Then, glancing at the clock, who

gentlemen. I have barely time to

coolness, slowly descended the stairs, and jumped into his carria

d to the coachman; "and