“By the way,” said Mrs. Calderbrook, “we saw an American break the bank yesterday, a Mr. Fetterstein. He played the number seventeen in every possible way, staking the maximum. They had to ring for more money. It was quite interesting. He must have won over a hundred thousand francs. Well, Father, we’ll leave you with Mr. Kildair to finish your pipe, while Alice and I go in to try our luck.”
When they had gone Mr. Calderbrook talked of various subjects, until suddenly dropping his voice, he said:
“You see that man in black coming along the terrace—the tall thin one.”
“The one with the clean-shaven face and the fixed smile?”
“Yes. That’s the great Krantz, the Chief of the Secret Police.”
As he passed them the eyes of Krantz were focussed on their faces.
“There,” said Mr. Calderbrook, “he knew we were discussing him.”
Hugh looked after the detective. His right hand, held behind his back, was carrying what looked like a sword cane. It was a long and muscular hand, and Hugh noted that part of the little finger was missing.
“They say,” said Mr. Calderbrook, “that he has all kinds of spies working for him and that he is quite unscrupulous. People who displease him have a way of disappearing suddenly. But then everything is high-handed about this place. It is beyond the law. All kinds of strange things can be done here and hushed up, all kinds of crimes go unpunished. It seems to be run quite irresponsibly. The Casino is supreme and rules with a high hand. All it cares for is to get money....”
Mr. Calderbrook began to bore him, and Hugh excused himself. He returned to the pension to prepare for his departure.