"What does it cost a day to run this shebang?" asked the American at last.
Monsieur Pelletan, with feverish haste, produced a paper from his pocket.
"I haf anticipate' monsieur's question; t'is statement will show heem."
Rushford took it and glanced at the total.
"Hmmmm. Four hundred and eighty francs—say a hundred dollars."
"T'at, monsieur," explained Pelletan, "iss based upon our present custom. As pusiness increase', so do t'e expense increase."
"Of course."
"But not in t'e same ratio as t'e receipts. A full house wins so much as six hundret francs t'e tay."
"Yes," assented Rushford, "a full house is a mighty nice thing. But now you seem to be holding only a bob-tail."
"A pop-tail?"