m to sit it out?

_Miss D._ That's _worse_! Let's hope he won't notice us.--Ah--he
_has_!

[Illustration: "Our dance, I believe?"]

[_Mr. CUBSON, a podgy young man with small eyes and a scrubby
moustache, wearing a tailless evening-coat and a wrinkled
white waistcoat, advances._

_Mr. Cubson_. Our dance, I believe? (_The Orchestra strikes up._)
Isn't that the _Pas de Quatre?_ To tell you the truth, I'm not
very well up in these new steps, so I shall trust to you to pull me
through--soon get into it, y'know.

_Miss D._ (_to herself_). If I could only get _out_ of it! (_She
rises with a look of mute appeal to her_ Sister.) We can go through
this room. (_They pass into the Salle des Petits Chevaux._) Stop one
minute--I just want to see which horse wins. Don't you call this a
fascinating game?

_Mr. C._ Well, I don't understand the way they play it here--too
complicated far _me_, you know!

_Miss D._ (_to herself_). Anything to gain time! (_Aloud._) Oh, it's
quite simple--you just put your money down on any number you choose,
and say "_Sur le_"--whatever it is, and, if it wins, you get seven
times your stake.

_Croupier_. Tous sont payes--faites vos jeux, Messieurs,--les jeux
sont partis!

_Miss D._ I know what I should do--I should back 7 this time. I've a
presentiment he'll win.

_Mr. C._ Then why don't you back him?

_Miss D._ Because I don't happen to have brought any money with me.

_Mr. C._ Oh, I daresay I can accommodate you with a franc or two, if
that's all.

_Miss D._ Thank you, I won't trouble you: but do back him yourself,
just to see if I'm not right.

_Croupier_. Les jeux sont faits. Rien ne va plus!

_Mr. C._ (_throwing a franc on the table_). Sur le sept! (_To_ Miss
D.) I say, he's raked it in. What'_s that_ for?

_Miss D._ For the Bank, or Charity, or something--they always do that
if you stake too late.

_Mr. C._ Swindle, _I_ call it. And I should have won, too--it _is_ 7.
I've had enough of this--suppose we go and dance?

_Miss D._ Why, you're not going to give in already--after so nearly
winning, too?

_Mr. C._ Ah, well, I'll have just one more go--and then we'll be off.
I'm going to try the 9 this time. [_He stakes._

_Miss D. I_ should have gone on the 4--it's time one of the even
numbers won again.

_Mr. C._ Oh, would you? All right, then. (_To_ Cr.) Pas sur le
neuf--le quatre. (_The_ Croupier _transfers the franc to 4._) They're
off--can't tell the winner ye