the gambler-第18部分

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coup？〃　thought　I；　as　I　stared　at　her　in　astonishment。　Yet　an
absolute　assurance　of　winning　was　shining　on　her　face；　she
looked　perfectly　convinced　that　zero　was　about　to　be　called
again。　At　length　the　ball　dropped　off　into　one　of　the　notches。

〃Zero！〃　cried　the　croupier。

〃Ah！！！〃　screamed　the　old　lady　as　she　turned　to　me　in　a　whirl
of　triumph。

I　myself　was　at　heart　a　gambler。　At　that　moment　I　became　acutely
conscious　both　of　that　fact　and　of　the　fact　that　my　hands　and
knees　were　shaking；　and　that　the　blood　was　beating　in　my　brain。
Of　course　this　was　a　rare　occasionan　occasion　on　which　zero　had
turned　up　no　less　than　three　times　within　a　dozen　rounds；　yet　in
such　an　event　there　was　nothing　so　very　surprising；　seeing　that；
only　three　days　ago；　I　myself　had　been　a　witness　to　zero　turning
up　THREE　TIMES　IN　SUCCESSION；　so　that　one　of　the　players　who　was
recording　the　coups　on　paper　was　moved　to　remark　that　for
several　days　past　zero　had　never　turned　up　at　all！

With　the　Grandmother；　as　with　any　one　who　has　won　a　very　large
sum；　the　management　settled　up　with　great　attention　and　respect；
since　she　was　fortunate　to　have　to　receive　no　less　than　4200
gulden。　Of　these　gulden　the　odd　200　were　paid　her　in　gold；　and
the　remainder　in　bank　notes。

This　time　the　old　lady　did　not　call　for　Potapitch；　for　that　she
was　too　preoccupied。　Though　not　outwardly　shaken　by　the　event
（indeed；　she　seemed　perfectly　calm）；　she　was　trembling　inwardly
from　head　to　foot。　At　length；　completely　absorbed　in　the　game；
she　burst　out：

〃Alexis　Ivanovitch；　did　not　the　croupier　just　say　that　4000
florins　were　the　most　that　could　be　staked　at　any　one　time？
Well；　take　these　4000；　and　stake　them　upon　the　red。〃

To　oppose　her　was　useless。　Once　more　the　wheel　revolved。

〃Rouge！〃　proclaimed　the　croupier。

Again　4000　florinsin　all　8000！　

〃Give　me　them；〃　commanded　the　Grandmother；　〃and　stake　the　other
4000　upon　the　red　again。〃

I　did　so。

〃Rouge！〃　proclaimed　the　croupier。

〃Twelve　thousand！〃　cried　the　old　lady。　〃Hand　me　the　whole
lot。　Put　the　gold　into　this　purse　here；　and　count　the　bank
notes。　Enough！　Let　us　go　home。　Wheel　my　chair　away。〃

XI

THE　chair；　with　the　old　lady　beaming　in　it；　was　wheeled　away
towards　the　doors　at　the　further　end　of　the　salon；　while　our
party　hastened　to　crowd　around　her；　and　to　offer　her　their
congratulations。　In　fact；　eccentric　as　was　her　conduct；　it　was
also　overshadowed　by　her　triumph；　with　the　result　that　the
General　no　longer　feared　to　be　publicly　compromised　by　being
seen　with　such　a　strange　woman；　but；　smiling　in　a　condescending；
cheerfully　familiar　way；　as　though　he　were　soothing　a　child；　he
offered　his　greetings　to　the　old　lady。　At　the　same　time；　both　he
and　the　rest　of　the　spectators　were　visibly　impressed。
Everywhere　people　kept　pointing　to　the　Grandmother；　and　talking
about　her。　Many　people　even　walked　beside　her　chair；　in　order　to
view　her　the　better　while；　at　a　little　distance；　Astley　was
carrying　on　a　conversation　on　the　subject　with　two　English
acquaintances　of　his。　De　Griers　was　simply　overflowing　with
smiles　and　compliments；　and　a　number　of　fine　ladies　were　staring
at　the　Grandmother　as　though　she　had　been　something　curious。

〃Quelle　victoire！〃　exclaimed　De　Griers。

〃Mais；　Madame；　c'etait　du　feu！〃　added　Mlle。　Blanche　with　an
elusive　smile。

〃Yes；　I　have　won　twelve　thousand　florins；〃　replied　the　old
lady。　〃And　then　there　is　all　this　gold。　With　it　the　total　ought
to　come　to　nearly　thirteen　thousand。　How　much　is　that　in　Russian
money？　Six　thousand　roubles；　I　think？〃

However；　I　calculated　that　the　sum　would　exceed　seven　thousand
roublesor；　at　the　present　rate　of　exchange；　even　eight
thousand。

〃Eight　thousand　roubles！　What　a　splendid　thing！　And　to　think　of
you　simpletons　sitting　there　and　doing　nothing！　Potapitch！
Martha！　See　what　I　have　won！〃

〃How　DID　you　do　it；　Madame？〃　Martha　exclaimed　ecstatically。　
〃Eight　thousand　roubles！〃

〃And　I　am　going　to　give　you　fifty　gulden　apiece。　There　they
are。〃

Potapitch　and　Martha　rushed　towards　her　to　kiss　her　hand。

〃And　to　each　bearer　also　I　will　give　a　ten…gulden　piece。　Let
them　have　it　out　of　the　gold；　Alexis　Ivanovitch。　But　why　is　this
footman　bowing　to　me；　and　that　other　man　as　well？　Are　they
congratulating　me？　Well；　let　them　have　ten　gulden　apiece。〃

〃Madame　la　princesseUn　pauvre　expatrieMalheur　continuelLes
princes　russes　sont　si　genereux！〃　said　a　man　who　for　some　time
past　had　been　hanging　around　the　old　lady's　chaira　personage
who；　dressed　in　a　shabby　frockcoat　and　coloured　waistcoat；　kept
taking　off　his　cap；　and　smiling　pathetically。

〃Give　him　ten　gulden；〃　said　the　Grandmother。　〃No；　give　him
twenty。　Now；　enough　of　that；　or　I　shall　never　get　done　with　you
all。　Take　a　moment's　rest；　and　then　carry　me　away。　Prascovia；　I
mean　to　buy　a　new　dress　for　you　tomorrow。　Yes；　and　for　you　too；
Mlle。　Blanche。　Please　translate；　Prascovia。〃

〃Merci；　Madame；〃　replied　Mlle。　Blanche　gratefully　as　she
twisted　her　face　into　the　mocking　smile　which　usually　she　kept
only　for　the　benefit　of　De　Griers　and　the　General。　The　latter
looked　confused；　and　seemed　greatly　relieved　when　we　reached　the
Avenue。

〃How　surprised　Theodosia　too　will　be！〃　went　on　the　Grandmother
（thinking　of　the　General's　nursemaid）。　〃She；　like　yourselves；
shall　have　the　price　of　a　new　gown。　Here；　Alexis　Ivanovitch！
Give　that　beggar　something〃　（a　crooked…backed　ragamuffin　had
approached　to　stare　at　us）。

〃But　perhaps　he　is　NOT　a　beggaronly　a　rascal；〃　I　replied。

〃Never　mind；　never　mind。　Give　him　a　gulden。〃

I　approached　the　beggar　in　question；　and　handed　him　the　coin。
Looking　at　me　in　great　astonishment；　he　silently　accepted　the
gulden；　while　from　his　person　there　proceeded　a　strong　smell　of
liquor。

〃Have　you　never　tried　your　luck；　Alexis　Ivanovitch？〃

〃No；　Madame。〃

〃Yet　just　now　I　could　see　that　you　were　burning　to　do　so？〃

〃I　do　mean　to　try　my　luck　presently。〃

〃Then　stake　everything　upon　zero。　You　have　seen　how　it　ought　to
be　done？　How　much　capital　do　you　possess？〃

〃Two　hundred　gulden；　Madame。〃

〃Not　very　much。　See　here；　I　will　lend　you　five　hundred　if　you
wish。　Take　this　purse　of　mine。〃　With　that　she　added　sharply　to
the　General：　〃But　YOU　need　not　expect　to　receive　any。〃

This　seemed　to　upset　him；　but　he　said　nothing；　and　De　Griers
contented　himself　by　scowling。

〃Que　diable！〃　he　whispered　to　the　General。　〃C'est　une
terrible　vieille。〃

〃Look！　Another　beggar；　another　beggar！〃　exclaimed　the
grandmother。　〃Alexis　Ivanovitch；　go　and　give　him　a　gulden。〃

As　she　spoke　I　saw　approaching　us　a　grey…headed　old　man　with　a
wooden　lega　man　who　was　dressed　in　a　blue　frockcoat　and
carrying　a　staff。　He　looked　like　an　old　soldier。　As　soon　as　I
tendered　him　the　coin　he　fell　back　a　step　or　two；　and　eyed　me
threateningly。

〃Was　ist　der　Teufel！〃　he　cried；　and　appended　thereto　a　round
dozen　of　oaths。

〃The　man　is　a　perfect　fool！〃　exclaimed　the　Grandmother；　waving
her　hand。　〃Move　on　now；　for　I　am　simply　famished。　When　we　have
lunched　we　will　return　to　that　place。〃

〃What？〃　cried　I。　〃You　are　going　to　play　again？〃

〃What　else　do　you　suppose？〃　she　retorted。　〃Are　you　going　only
to　sit　here；　and　grow　sour；　and　let　me　look　at　you？〃

〃Madame；〃　said　De　Griers　confidentially；　〃les　chances　peuvent
tourner。　Une　seule　mauvaise　chance；　et　vous　perdrez　toutsurtout
avec　votre　jeu。　C'etait　terrible！〃

〃Oui；　vous　perdrez　absolument；〃　put　in　Mlle。　Blanche。

〃What　has　that　got　to　do　with　YOU？〃　retorted　the　old　lady。　
〃It　is　not　YOUR　money　that　I　am　going　to　lose；　it　is　my　own。　And
where　is　that　Mr。　Astley　of　yours？〃　she　added　to　myself。

〃He　stayed　behind　in　the　Casino。〃

〃What　a　pity！　He　is　such　a　nice　sort　of　man！〃

Arriving　home；　and　meeting　the　landlord　on　the　staircase；　the
Grandmother　called　him　to　her　side；　and　boasted　to　him　of　her
winningsthereafter　doing　the　same　to　Theodosia；　and　conferring
upon　her　thirty　gulden；　after　which　she　bid　her　serve　luncheon。
The　meal　over；　Theodosia　and　Martha　broke　into　a　joint　flood　of
ecstasy。

〃I　was　watching　you　all　the　time；　Madame；〃　quavered　Martha；　
〃and　I　asked　Potapitch　what　mistress　was　trying　to　do。　And；　my
word！　the　heaps　and　heaps　of　money　that　were　lying　upon　the
table！　Never　in　my　life　have　I　seen　so　much　money。　And　there
were　gentlefolk　around　it；　and　other　gentlefolk　sitting　down。　So；
I　asked　Potapitch　where　all　these　gentry　had　come　from；　for；
thought　I；　maybe　the　Holy　Mother　of　God　will　help　our　mistress
among　them。　Yes；　I　prayed　for　you；　Madame；　and　my　heart　died
within　me；　so　that　I　kept　trembling　and　trembling。　The　Lord　be
with　her；　I　thought　to　myself；　and　in　answer　to　my　prayer　He　has
now　sent　you　what　He　has　done！　Even　yet　I　trembleI　tremble　to
think　of　it　all。〃

〃Alexis　Ivanovitch；〃　said　the　old　lady；　〃after　luncheon；that
is　to　say；　about　four　o'clockget　ready　to　go　out　with　me　again。
But　in　the　meanwhile；　good…bye。　Do　not　forget　to　call　a　doctor；
for　I　must　take　the　waters。　Now　go　and　get　rested　a　little。〃

I　left　the　Grandmother's　presence　in　a　state　of　bewilderment。

Vainly　I　endeavoured　to　imagine　what　would　become　of　our　party；
or　what　turn　the　affair　would　next　take。　I　could　perceive　that
none　of　the　party　had　yet　recovered　their　presence　of　mindleast
of　all　the　General。　The　factor　of　the　Grandmother's　appearance　in　
place　of　the　hourly　expected　telegram　to　announce　her　death
（with；　of　course；　resultant　legacies）　had　so　upset　the　whole
scheme　of　intentions　and　projects　that　it　was　with　a　decided
feeling　of　apprehension　and　growing　paralysis　that　the
conspirators　viewed　any　future　performances　of　the　old　lady　at
roulette。　Yet　this　second　factor　was　not　quite　so　important　as
the　first；　since；　though　the　Grandmother　had　twice　declared　that
she　did　not　intend　to　give　the　General　any　money；　that
declaration　was　not　a　complete　ground　for　the　abandonment　of
hope。　Certainly　De　Griers；　who；　with　the　General；　was　up　to　the
neck　in　the　affair；　had　not　wholly　lost　courage；　and　I　felt　sure
that　Mlle。　Blanche　alsoMlle。　Blanche　who　was　not　only　as
deeply　involved　as　the　other　two；　but　also　expectant　of　becoming
Madame　General　and　an　important　legateewould　not　lightly
surrender　the　position；　but　wo