I was going to take the
children; and as he did so, I could see that he failed to look me in
the eyes. He WANTED to do so, but each time was met by me with such a
fixed, disrespectful stare that he desisted in confusion. In pompous
language, however, which jumbled one sentence into another, and at
length grew disconnected, he gave me to understand that I was to lead
the children altogether away from the Casino, and out into the park.
Finally his anger exploded, and he added sharply:

"I suppose you would like to take them to the Casino to play roulette?
Well, excuse my speaking so plainly, but I know how addicted you are to
gambling. Though I am not your mentor, nor wish to be, at least I have
a right to require that you shall not actually compromise me."

"I have no money for gambling," I quietly replied.

"But you will soon be in receipt of some," retorted the General,
reddening a little as he dived into his writing desk and applied
himself to a memorandum book. From it he saw that he had 120 roubles of
mine in his keeping.

"Let us calculate," he went on. "We must translate these roubles into
thalers. Here--take 100 thalers, as a round sum. The rest will be safe
in my hands."

In silence I took the money.

"You must not be offended at what I say," he continued. "You are too
touchy about these things. What I have said I have said merely as a
warning. To do so is no more than my right."

When returning home with the children before luncheon, I met a
cavalcade of our party riding to view some ruins. Two splendid
carriages, magnificently horsed, with Mlle. Blanche, Maria Philipovna,
and Polina Alexandrovna in one of them, and the Frenchman, the
Englishman, and the General in attendance on horseback! The passers-by
stopped to stare at them, for the effect was splendid--the General
could not have improved upon it. I calculated that, with the 4000
francs which I had brought with me, added to what my patrons seemed
already to have acquired, the party must be in possession of at least
7000 or 8000 francs--though that would be none too much for Mlle.
Blanche, who, with her mother and the Frenchman, was also lodging in
our hotel. The latter gentleman was called by the lacqueys "Monsieur le
Comte," and Mlle. Blanche's mother was dubbed "Madame la Comtesse."
Perhaps in very truth they WERE "Comte et Comtesse."

I knew that "Monsieur le Comte" would take no notice of me when we met
at dinner, as also that the General wo