"Yes; a Frenchman whom no one had ever seen before won a hatful at roulette, and some Englishman whom no one seemed to know backed him and stood in. They looked like breaking the bank at one time, but they didn't."
"Was Tchernigow at the tables?"
"No; the Prince did not show up at all,--has not been there for the last three nights."
"So much the worse for Benazet; but what does it mean?"
"Well, I've a notion about that that I won't broach to any one but your Lordship. I think I've found the clue to that story."
"What story? what clue?"
"Prince Tchernigow's sudden cessation from play. You know what a mania it was with him. It must have been something special to make him give it up."
"And what is the something special?"
"A woman."
"Ah!" said Lord Dollamore, warming a once into interest; "malheureux en jeu, heureux en amour,--the converse of the ordinarily-received motto. Has Mademoiselle Féodor arrived from the Gaieté? or who is the siren that charms our Prince from the tables?"