top when their unlucky star is in the
ascendant, or they feel that curious eyes are watching them. For these
habitual players at Monte Carlo are very superstitious, and it takes but
little to unnerve them. There are young women there too, who play first,
to see if they can win, and when by the fall of the little ball their
gold piece is doubled, they try again and again, until the habit is
fixed, and their faces are as well known in the saloons as those of the
old men with the blear eyes, which find time between the plays to scan
these young girls curiously, and calculate their price.

And among these young women, Daisy McPherson sat the morning after her
arrival at Monte Carlo, with a look of sweet innocence on her face, and
apparent unconsciousness of the attention she was attracting. She had
been among the first who entered the _salon_ at the hour of its opening,
for she was eager for the contest. She did not expect Archie to play,
for she knew he would not break the promise made to his dying father.
But she was bound by no such vow, and she meant to make her fortune on
the spot where gold was won so easily, and alas, so easily lost.

Rarely, if ever, had a more beautiful face been seen in that gilded den
than Daisy's, as she entered the room, leaning upon the arm of her
husband, and walking slowly from table to table to see how it was done
before making her first venture. Not a man but turned to look at her,
and when at last, with a trembling hand, she put down her five franc
piece, not one but was glad when she took up two, and with a smile of
triumph tried her luck again. It is said that success always attends the
new beginner at Monte Carlo, and it surely attended Daisy, who played on
and on, seldom losing, until, grown bold by repeated success, she staked
her all, one hundred and fifty francs, and doubled it at once.

"That will do. Twelve pounds are enough for one day," she said, and
depositing her gains in her leather bag, she took Archie's arm and left
the room, followed by scores of admiring eyes, while many an eager
question was asked as to who the lovely English girl could be.

In the ante-room outside there was a crowd of people moving in opposite
directions, and the train of Daisy's blue muslin, for those were not
the days of short dresses, was stepped upon and held until the gathers
at the waist gave way and there was a long, ugly rent in one of the
bottom flounces.

"I beg your pardon, miss, for my