on Madame Wachner breathlessly.

What could be happening? Sylvia felt the other's excitement to be
contagious. As she entered the gambling room she saw that a large crowd
was gathered round the centre Baccarat table.

"A party of young men out from Paris," explained Madame Wachner in a low
tone, "are throwing about their money. It might have been terrible. But
no, it is a great piece of good fortune for Madame Wolsky!"

And still Sylvia did not understand.

They walked together up to the table, and then, with amazement and a
curious feeling of fear clutching at her heart, Sylvia Bailey saw that
Anna Wolsky was holding the Bank.

It was the first time she had ever seen a lady in the Banker's seat.

A thick bundle of notes, on which were arranged symmetrical piles of gold
lay in front of Madame Wolsky, and as was always the case when she was
really excited, Anna's face had become very pale, and her eyes glistened
feverishly.

The play, too, was much higher than usual. This was owing to the fact
that at one end of the table there stood a little group of five young men
in evening dress. They talked and laughed as they flung their money on
the green cloth, and seemed to enjoy the fact that they were the centre
of attraction.

"One of them," whispered Madame Wachner eagerly, "had already lost eight
thousand francs when I went downstairs to look for you! See, they are
still losing. Our friend has the devil's own luck to-night! I have
forbidden L'Ami Fritz to play at all. Nothing can stand against her. She
sweeps the money up every time. If Fritz likes, he can go downstairs to
the lower room and play."

But before doing so L'Ami Fritz lingered awhile, watching Madame Wolsky's
wonderful run of luck with an expression of painful envy and greed on his
wolfish countenance.

Sylvia went round to a point where she could watch Anna's face. To a
stranger Madame Wolsky might have appeared almost indifferent; but there
had come two spots of red on her cheeks, and the hand with which she
raked up the money trembled.

The words rang out, "_Faites vos jeux, Messieurs, Mesdames._" Then, "_Le
jeu est fait! Rien ne va plus!_"

The luck suddenly turned against Anna. She looked up, and found Sylvia's
eyes fixed on her. She made a slight motion, as if she wished her friend
to go away.

Sylvia slipped back, and walked quietly round the table. Then she stood
behind Anna, and once more the luck came back, and the lady banker's pile