a laodicean-第48章

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the　events　of　the　table。　　Somerset　retreated　a　few　steps；　and
pondered　the　question　whether　Dare　could　know　where　they　had
gone。　　He　disliked　to　be　beholden　to　Dare　for　information；　but
he　would　give　a　great　deal　to　know。　　While　pausing　he　watched
Dare's　play。　　He　staked　only　five…franc　pieces；　but　it　was
done　with　an　assiduity　worthy　of　larger　coin。　　At　every　half…
minute　or　so　he　placed　his　money　on　a　certain　spot；　and　as
regularly　had　the　mortification　of　seeing　it　swept　away　by　the
croupier's　rake。　　After　a　while　he　varied　his　procedure。　　He
risked　his　money；　which　from　the　look　of　his　face　seemed
rather　to　have　dwindled　than　increased；　less　recklessly
against　long　odds　than　before。　　Leaving　off　backing　numbers　en
plein；　he　laid　his　venture　a　cheval；　then　tried　it　upon　the
dozens；　then　upon　two　numbers；　then　upon　a　square；　and；
apparently　getting　nearer　and　nearer　defeat；　at　last　upon　the
simple　chances　of　even　or　odd；　over　or　under；　red　or　black。
Yet　with　a　few　fluctuations　in　his　favour　fortune　bore
steadily　against　him；　till　he　could　breast　her　blows　no
longer。　　He　rose　from　the　table　and　came　towards　Somerset；　and
they　both　moved　on　together　into　the　entrance…hall。

Dare　was　at　that　moment　the　victim　of　an　overpowering　mania
for　more　money。　　His　presence　in　the　South　of　Europe　had　its
origin；　as　may　be　guessed；　in　Captain　De　Stancy's　journey　in
the　same　direction；　whom　he　had　followed；　and　troubled　with
persistent　request　for　more　funds；　carefully　keeping　out　of
sight　of　Paula　and　the　rest。　　His　dream　of　involving　Paula　in
the　De　Stancy　pedigree　knew　no　abatement。　　But　Somerset　had
lighted　upon　him　at　an　instant　when　that　idea；　though　not
displaced；　was　overwhelmed　by　a　rage　for　play。　　In　hope　of
being　able　to　continue　it　by　Somerset's　aid　he　was　prepared　to
do　almost　anything　to　please　the　architect。

'You　asked　me；'　said　Dare；　stroking　his　impassive　brow；　'if　I
had　seen　anything　of　the　Powers。　　I　have　seen　them；　and　if　I
can　be　of　any　use　to　you　in　giving　information　about　them　I
shall　only　be　too　glad。'

'What　information　can　you　give？'

'I　can　tell　you　where　they　are　gone　to。'

'Where？'

'To　the　Grand　Hotel；　Genoa。　　They　went　on　there　this
afternoon。'

'Whom　do　you　refer　to　by　they？'

'Mrs。　Goodman；　Mr。　Power；　Miss　Power；　Miss　De　Stancy；　and　the
worthy　captain。　　He　leaves　them　tomorrow：　　he　comes　back　here
for　a　day　on　his　way　to　England。'

Somerset　was　silent。　　Dare　continued：　　'Now　I　have　done　you　a
favour；　will　you　do　me　one　in　return？'

Somerset　looked　towards　the　gaming…rooms；　and　said　dubiously；
'Well？'

'Lend　me　two　hundred　francs。'

'Yes；'　said　Somerset；　'but　on　one　condition：　　that　I　don't
give　them　to　you　till　you　are　inside　the　hotel　you　are　staying
at。'

'That　can't　be；　it's　at　Nice。'

'Well　I　am　going　back　to　Nice；　and　I'll　lend　you　the　money　the
instant　we　get　there。'

'But　I　want　it　here；　now；　instantly！'　cried　Dare；　and　for　the
first　time　there　was　a　wiry　unreasonableness　in　his　voice　that
fortified　his　companion　more　firmly　than　ever　in　his
determination　to　lend　the　young　man　no　money　whilst　he
remained　inside　that　building。

'You　want　it　to　throw　it　away。　　I　don't　approve　of　it；　so　come
with　me。'

'But；'　said　Dare；　'I　arrived　here　with　a　hundred　napoleons　and
more；　expressly　to　work　out　my　theory　of　chances　and
recurrences；　which　is　sound；　I　have　studied　it　hundreds　of
times　by　the　help　of　this。'　　He　partially　drew　from　his　pocket
the　little　volume　that　we　have　before　seen　in　his　hands。　　'If
I　only　persevere　in　my　system；　the　certainty　that　I　must　win
is　almost　mathematical。　　I　have　staked　and　lost　two　hundred
and　thirty…three　times。　　Allowing　out　of　that　one　chance　in
every　thirty…six；　which　is　the　average　of　zero　being　marked；
and　two　hundred　and　four　times　for　the　backers　of　the　other
numbers；　I　have　the　mathematical　expectation　of　six　times　at
least；　which　would　nearly　recoup　me。　　And　shall　I；　then；
sacrifice　that　vast　foundation　of　waste　chances　that　I　have
laid　down；　and　paid　for；　merely　for　want　of　a　little　ready
money？'

'You　might　persevere　for　a　twelvemonth；　and　still　not　get　the
better　of　your　reverses。　　Time　tells　in　favour　of　the　bank。
Just　imagine　for　the　sake　of　argument　that　all　the　people　who
have　ever　placed　a　stake　upon　a　certain　number　to　be　one
person　playing　continuously。　　Has　that　imaginary　person　won？
The　existence　of　the　bank　is　a　sufficient　answer。'

'But　a　particular　player　has　the　option　of　leaving　off　at　any
point　favourable　to　himself；　which　the　bank　has　not；　and
there's　my　opportunity。'

'Which　from　your　mood　you　will　be　sure　not　to　take　advantage
of。'

'I　shall　go　on　playing；'　said　Dare　doggedly。

'Not　with　my　money。'

'Very　well；　we　won't　part　as　enemies；'　replied　Dare；　with　the
flawless　politeness　of　a　man　whose　speech　has　no　longer　any
kinship　with　his　feelings。　　'Shall　we　share　a　bottle　of　wine？
You　will　not？　　Well；　I　hope　your　luck　with　your　lady　will　be
more　magnificent　than　mine　has　been　here；　butmind　Captain　De
Stancy！　he's　a　fearful　wildfowl　for　you。'

'He's　a　harmless　inoffensive　soldier；　as　far　as　I　know。　　If　he
is　notlet　him　be　what　he　may　for　me。'

'And　do　his　worst　to　cut　you　out；　I　suppose？'

'Ayif　you　will。'　　Somerset；　much　against　his　judgment；　was
being　stimulated　by　these　pricks　into　words　of　irritation。
'Captain　De　Stancy　might；　I　think；　be　better　employed　than　in
dangling　at　the　heels　of　a　lady　who　can　well　dispense　with　his
company。　　And　you　might　be　better　employed　than　in　wasting
your　wages　here。'

'Wagesa　fit　word　for　my　money。　　May　I　ask　you　at　what　stage
in　the　appearance　of　a　man　whose　way　of　existence　is　unknown；
his　money　ceases　to　be　called　wages　and　begins　to　be　called
means？'

Somerset　turned　and　left　him　without　replying；　Dare　following
his　receding　figure　with　a　look　of　ripe　resentment；　not　less
likely　to　vent　itself　in　mischief　from　the　want　of　moral
ballast　in　him　who　emitted　it。　　He　then　fixed　a　nettled　and
unsatisfied　gaze　upon　the　gaming…rooms；　and　in　another　minute
or　two　left　the　Casino　also。

Dare　and　Somerset　met　no　more　that　day。　　The　latter　returned
to　Nice　by　the　evening　train　and　went　straight　to　the　hotel。
He　now　thanked　his　fortune　that　he　had　not　precipitately　given
up　his　room　there；　for　a　telegram　from　Paula　awaited　him。　　His
hand　almost　trembled　as　he　opened　it；　to　read　the　following
few　short　words；　dated　from　the　Grand　Hotel；　Genoa：

'Letter　received。　　Am　glad　to　hear　of　your　journey。　　We　are
not　returning　to　Nice；　but　stay　here　a　week。　　I　direct　this　at
a　venture。'

This　tantalizing　messagethe　first　breaking　of　her　recent
silencewas　saucy；　almost　cruel；　in　its　dry　frigidity。　　It
led　him　to　give　up　his　idea　of　following　at　once　to　Genoa。
That　was　what　she　obviously　expected　him　to　do；　and　it　was
possible　that　his　non…arrival　might　draw　a　letter　or　message
from　her　of　a　sweeter　composition　than　this。　　That　would　at
least　be　the　effect　of　his　tardiness　if　she　cared　in　the　least
for　him；　if　she　did　not　he　could　bear　the　worst。　　The　argument
was　good　enough　as　far　as　it　went；　but；　like　many　more；　failed
from　the　narrowness　of　its　premises；　the　contingent
intervention　of　Dare　being　entirely　undreamt　of。　　It　was
altogether　a　fatal　miscalculation；　which　cost　him　dear。

Passing　by　the　telegraph…office　in　the　Rue　Pont…Neuf　at　an
early　hour　the　next　morning　he　saw　Dare　coming　out　from　the
door。　　It　was　Somerset's　momentary　impulse　to　thank　Dare　for
the　information　given　as　to　Paula's　whereabouts；　information
which　had　now　proved　true。　　But　Dare　did　not　seem　to
appreciate　his　friendliness；　and　after　a　few　words　of　studied
civility　the　young　man　moved　on。

And　well　he　might。　　Five　minutes　before　that　time　he　had
thrown　open　a　gulf　of　treachery　between　himself　and　the
architect　which　nothing　in　life　could　ever　close。　　Before
leaving　the　telegraph…office　Dare　had　despatched　the　following
message　to　Paula　direct；　as　a　set…off　against　what　he　called
Somerset's　ingratitude　for　valuable　information；　though　it　was
really　the　fruit　of　many　passions；　motives；　and　desires：

'G。　Somerset；　Nice；　to　Miss　Power；　Grand　Hotel；　Genoa。

'Have　lost　all　at　Monte　Carlo。　　Have　learnt　that　Captain　D。　S。
returns　here　to…morrow。　　Please　send　me　one　hundred　pounds　by
him；　and　save　me　from　disgrace。　　Will　await　him　at　eleven
o'clock　and　four；　on　the　Pont…Neuf。'



V。

Five　hours　after　the　despatch　of　that　telegram　Captain　De
Stancy　was　rattling　along　the　coast　railway　of　the　Riviera
from　Genoa　to　Nice。　　He　was　returning　to　England　by　way　of
Marseilles；　but　before　turning　northwards　he　had　engaged　to
perform　on　Miss　Power's　account　a　peculiar　and　somewhat
disagreeable　duty。　　This　was　to　place　in　Somerset's　hands　a
hundred　and　twenty…five　napoleons　which　had　been　demanded　from
her　by　a　message　in　Somerset's　name。　　The　money　was　in　his
pocketall　in　gold；　in　a　canvas　bag；　tied　up　by　Paula's　own
hands；　which　he　had　observed　to　tremble　as　she　tied　it。

As　he　leaned　in　the　corner　of　the　carriage　he　was　thinking
over　the　events　of　the　morning　which　had　culminated　in　that
liberal　response。　　At　ten　o'clock；　before　he　had　gone　out　from
the　hotel　where　he　had　taken　up　his　quarters；　which　was　not
the　same　as　the　one　patronized　by　Paula　and　her　friends；　he
had　been　summoned　to　her　presence　in　a　manner　so　unexpected　as
to　imply　that　something　serious　was　in　question。　　On　entering
her　room　he　had　been　struck　by　the　absence　of　that　saucy
independence　usually　apparent　in　her　bearing　towards　him；
notwithstanding　the　persistency　with　which　he　had　hovered　near
her　for　the　previous　month；　and　gradually；　by　the　position　of
his　sister；　and　the　favour　of　Paula's　uncle　in　intercepting
one　of　Somerset's　letters　and　several　of　his　telegrams；
established　himself　as　an　intimate　member　of　the　travelling
party。　　His　entry；　however；　this　time　as　always；　had　had　the
effect　of　a　tonic；　and　it　was　quite　with　her　customary　self…
possession　that　she　had　told　him　of　the　object　of　her　message。

'You　think　of　returning　to　Nice　this　afternoon？'　she　inquired。

De　Stancy　informed　her　that　such　was　his　intention；　and　asked
if　he　could　do　anything　for　her　there。

Then；　he　remembered；　she　had　hesitated。　　'I　have　received　a
telegram；'　she　said　at　length；　and　so　she　allowed　to　escape
her　bit　by　bit　the　information　that　her　architect；　whose　name
she　seemed　reluctant　to　utter；　had　travelled　from　England　to
Nice　that　week；　partly　to　consult　her；　partly　for　a　holiday
trip；　that　he　had　gone　on　to　Monte　Carlo；　had　there　lost　his
money　and　got　into　difficulties；　and　had　appealed　to　her　to
help　him　out　of　them　by　the　immediate　advance　of　some　ready
cash。　　It　was　a　sad　case；　an　unexpected　case；　she　murmured；
with　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　window。　　Indeed　she　could　not
comprehend　it。

To　De　Stancy　there　appeared　nothing　so　very　extraordinary　in
Somerset's　apparent　fiasco；　except　in　so　far　as　that　he　should
have　applied　to　Paula　for　relief　from　his　distresses　instead
of　elsewhere。　　It　was　a　self…humiliation　which　a　lover　would
have　avoided　at　all　costs；　he　thought。　　Yet　after　a　momentary
reflection　on　his　theory　of　Somerset's　character；　it　seemed
sufficiently　natural　that　he　should　lean　pe