During the intervals when the wheel was at rest, or when it had just started revolving, Delapine would quietly look round the tables and make a mental note of the characters assembled.
Payot's eyes nearly started out of his head when he saw Renée's huge pile of notes creeping up minute by minute. He touched the professor and spoke to him. Delapine, however, did not for one moment appear to notice, and Renée, dreading lest her father should break the spell, touched him on the shoulder.
"Please, father, do keep quiet, or you'll spoil everything."
Payot had the good sense to take the hint and made no further attempt to interrupt.
It was not long before the news of Renée's amazing good fortune spread to the other tables, and soon she found herself surrounded by an eager crowd, pushing and jostling each other in their anxiety to see not only the numbers she was backing, but the lucky player herself. She had just placed the maximum on ten different chances, and several of the others, noticing how uniformly successful she was, put their money on the same numbers and squares.
Nine out of the ten stakes won, and as the croupiers were paying out the money they suddenly stopped. The bank was broken!
The news spread like wild fire all over the room, and a ringing cheer rose from the crowd.
Renée's pile had reached 700,000 francs.
A few minutes later two attendants came in carrying a large steel box containing a fresh supply of money.
Everyone now resolved to stake his or her cash on the same ventures as Renée.