. Two more bets, and
then he would pocket his winnings and go. He laid forty francs on number
twenty-six and four hundred on black, leaned upon his elbows and studied
the pretty woman, who smiled. If she spoke English.... He scribbled the
question on a scrap of paper and pushed it across the table, blushing a
little as he did so. She read it, or at least she tried to read it, and
shook her head with the air of one deeply puzzled. He sighed again,
reflecting that there might have been a pleasant adventure had he only
understood French. Hang the legend of the Tower of Babel! it was always
confronting him in this part of the world.

Twenty-six, black and even!

Merrihew slid back his chair and rose. He swept up the gold by the
handful and poured it into his pockets, casually and unconcernedly, as
if this was an every-day affair and of minor importance. But as a matter
of fact, his heart was beating fast, and there was a wild desire in his
throat to yell with delight. Eighteen hundred dollars, nine thousand
francs! A merry music they made in his pockets. Jingle, jingle, jingle!
Not only the good Samaritan, but the accursed thousand, that baneful
thousand, that Nemesis of every New Year, might now be overtaken and
annihilated. O happy thought! His pockets sagged, he could walk but
stiffly, and in weight he seemed to have gained a ton. And then he saw
Hillard coming across the hall. Instantly he forced the joy from his
face and eyes and dropped his chin in his collar. He became in that
moment the picture of desolation.

"Is it all over?" asked Hillard gravely.

"All over!" monotonously.

"Come over to the cafe, then. I've something important to tell you."

"Found them?" with rousing interest.

"I shall tell you only when we get out of this place. Come."

Merrihew followed him into the cloak-room; and as they came out into the
night, Hillard put out a friendly hand.

"I am sorry, boy; I wanted you to win something. Cheer up; we'll shake
the dust of this place in the morning."

Merrihew took off his hat and tossed it into the air hilariously. As it
came down he tried to catch it on the toe of his pump, but active as he
was he missed, and it rolled along the pavement. He recovered it
quickly.

"Oh, for a vacant lot and a good old whooper-up! Feel!" he said,
touching his side pockets. Hillard felt. "Feel again!" commanded
Merrihew, touching his trousers pockets. Hillard, with increasing
wonder, felt again.

"What