Erot, the Queen's favorite, watched her. "A thousand drachmas on the stranger!" he cried.
"I am betting on the stranger, too," interjected another noble eagerly.
"So am I," said Nemone.
Erot and the other nobles were amazed; this upset their plans completely. Of course they would win more money, but one always felt safer losing to Nemone than winning from her.
"You will lose your money," Erot told her.
"Then why did you offer to bet on the stranger?" demanded the Queen.
"The odds were so attractive that I was tempted into taking a chance," explained Erot quickly.
"What are the odds now?"
"One hundred to one."
"And you think the stranger may not have even one chance in a hundred of winning?" demanded Nemone, toying idly with the hilt of her dagger.