d learnt by now was the winning number,
a nine of hearts, and the second card was the king of clubs.

Again and again, she turned up winning numbers--the eight and the ace,
the five and the four, the six and the three--every combination which
brought luck to the table and confusion to the banker.

Eyes full of adoring admiration, aye and gratitude, were turned on the
young Englishwoman. Paul de Virieu alone did not look at her. But he
followed her play.

"Now put on a hundred francs," said Anna, authoritatively.

Sylvia looked at her, rather surprised by the advice, but she obeyed it.
And still the Comte de Virieu followed her lead.

That made her feel dreadfully nervous and excited--it would be so
terrible to make him lose too!

Neither of them lost. On the contrary, ten napoleons were added to the
double pile of gold.

And then, after that, it seemed as if the whole table were following
Sylvia's game.

"That pretty Englishwoman is playing for the first time!"--so the word
went round. And they all began backing her luck with feverish haste.

The banker, a good-looking young Frenchman, stared at Sylvia ruefully.
Thanks to her, he was being badly punished. Fortunately, he could afford
it.

At the end of half an hour, feeling tired and bewildered by her good
fortune, Mrs. Bailey got up and moved away from the table, the possessor
of L92. The Comte Virieu had won exactly the same amount.

Now everybody looked pleased except the banker. For the first time a
smile irradiated Monsieur Wachner's long face.

As for Madame Wachner, she was overjoyed. Catching Sylvia by the hand,
she exclaimed, in her curious, woolly French, "I would like to embrace
you! But I know that English ladies do not like kissing in public. It is
splendid--splendid! Look at all the people you have made happy."

"But how about the poor banker?" asked Sylvia, blushing.

"Oh, 'e is all right. 'E is very rich."

Madame Wolsky, like the Count, had exactly followed her friend's play,
but not as soon as he had done. Still, she also had made over L80.

"Two thousand francs!" she cried, joyfully. "That is very good for a
beginning. And you?" she turned to Monsieur Wachner.

He hesitated, and looked at his wife deprecatingly.

"L'Ami Fritz," said Madame Wachner, "_will_ play 'is system, Mesdames.
However, I am glad to say that to-day he soon gave it up in honour of our
friend here. What 'ave you made?" she asked him.

"Only eight hundred fran