ll
surely ensnare for me at least one of the Americans. Which, I wonder?
But then why should I care which? The Ripoli knows how to manage such
affairs far better than I do."

For the Countess was another of the many dangerous tools with which
Mr. Green Hat plied his wicked trade.

If the Countess, as unscrupulous as Gortchky himself, could ensnare
either of these young officers with her fascinations, he was likely
to be that much the weaker, and a readier prey for the trap that Emil
Gortchky was arranging.

"Dandelli," murmured the Countess sweetly, in French, "you will wish,
I know, to talk with your dear friend, Mr. Darrin, so I must look to
Mr. Dalzell to offer me his arm."

Dan was ready, with a bow, to offer the Countess Ripoli his arm, and
to escort her in the direction which she indicated.

It was to one of the verandas that the Countess led the way. As she
chatted she laughed and looked up at Dan with her most engaging
expression. There were other promenaders on the veranda, though not
many, for the furious fascination of gambling tables kept nearly all
the frequenters of the place inside.

"You have played to-night?" asked the Countess, again glancing sweetly
up into the young naval officer's face.

"Not to-night," Dan replied.

"But you will doubtless play later?" she insisted.

"I haven't gambled to-night, nor shall I gamble on any other night,"
Dan replied pleasantly.

"But why?" demanded the Countess, looking puzzled.

"Gambling does not fit in with my idea of honesty," replied Dalzell
quite bluntly.

CHAPTER VI

DAVE RUNS INTO A REAL THRILL

"I do not understand," murmured the Countess.

"I know that the European idea of gambling is very different from that
entertained by most people in my country," Dan went on pleasantly. "To
the greater number of Americans, gambling is a method of getting other
people's money away from them without working for it."

"And that is why you term it dishonest?" asked the Countess.

"Yes," replied Dan frankly. "And, in addition, it is a wicked waste of
time that could be put to so many good uses."

Countess Ripoli shrugged her fine shoulders, and looked up once more
at the young officer. But Dan was smiling back coolly at her.

"You have not a flattering idea of the Europeans?" she asked.

"Quite to the contrary," Dan assured her.

"Yet you think we are both weak and dishonest, because we use our
time to poor advantage and because so many of