Evening star., 1922-07-23
By w. j.

She left him and went upstairs
| again In the lift. Aristide athirst
with love. living drama and unholy
| hatred of the Comte de Lussigny.
cooked his black. soft-felt evening
hat at an engaging angle on his
head and swaggered into the Villa des
fleurs. As he PASSED the plebeian
crowd round the petits-chevaux ta-
ble-these were the days OF little
horses and not the modern equivalent
OF la boule-he threw a louis on the
square marked 5, waited for the
croupier to push him his winnings.
louis and his stake on the little
white horse. and walked into the
baccarat room. A bank was being
called for 80 louis at the end table.
| "Quarante," said Aristide.
| "Ajuge a quarante louis" cried the
croupier. no one bidding higher.
| Aristide took the bankers seat and
put down 40 louis. Looking round the
long table he saw the Comte de Lus-
signy sitting in the punt. The two
men glared at each other defantly.
Some one went ''banco" Aristide
won. Tho fact of his holding the bank
attracted a crowd round the table.
The regular game began. Aristide
won. lost. won again. Now it must be
| explained. without going into the de-
| tails of the game, that the hand
against the bank is played by the
members OF the punt in turn.
| Suddenly, before dealing the cards,
Aristide asked. "A qui la MAIN"
"C'est a monster" said the croupier.
indicating Lussigny.
"Il a une suite" said Arstide. sig
nifying. as was his right. that he
would retire from the bank with his
winnings. Tho face Of that gentle
man does not please me-"
THERE was a hush at the hum
ming table. The count grew dead
white and looked at his fngernails.
Aristide superbly gathered up his
notes and gold, and. tossing a couple
of louis to the cropiers. left the table.
followed by all eyes. 1t was one OF
the thrilling moments OF Aristide
| life. He had taken the stage. COM
manded the situation. He had pub
| licly offered the Comte de Lussigny
the most deadly insult and the Comte
de Lussigny sat down beneath it like
lamb. He staggered slowly through
the crowded room. twirling his
moustache. and went into the cool
OF the moon-lit deserted garden be-
yond. where he waited gleefully. He
had a puckish knowledge of human
nature. After a decent interval, and
during the absorbing interest of the
newly constituted bank, the Comte de-
Lussigny slipped unnoticed from the
table and went in search OF Aristidc.
He found him smoking a large
corona and lounging in one wicker
chair with his feet on another. beside
very large whisky and soda
"Ah. it's you" said he without
moving.
Yes" said the count furiously.
Il haven't yet had the pleasure of
kicking your friends over Mont
Reward" said Aristide.
Look here, mon petit. this has got
to finish" cried the count.
| "Parfaitement. should like
nothing better than to finish. But let
us finish like well-bred people" said
Aristide suavely. I'VE don't want the
whole Casino as witnesses. You'll
find a chair over there. Bring 1t up"
He was enjoying himself immensely.
The count glared at him. turned and
| banged a chair over by the side Of
| the table.
| why do you insult me like this"
Because" said Aristide, i've talk
ed by telephone this evening with
my good friend Monsieur Lepine,
prefect OF police of Paris"
| You lie," said the count.
| 'Vous verrez. In the mea ntime,
perhaps we might have a little con-
versation. Will you have a whisky VI
and soda? 1t is one of my EnglisH
ha abits."
| No. said the count emphatically.
You permit me them" He drank
a great draught. You are wrong.
1t helps to cool ones temper. Eh bien,
let US talk"
LIE talked. He put before the count
the situation of the beautiful
Miss Errington. He conducted the
scene like the friend of the family
whose astuteness he had admired as
a boy in the melodramas that found
their way to Marselle.
Look" said he. at last. having
vainly offered from one hundred to
eight hundred pounds for poor Betty
Errington's compromising letters.
Look" He drew the cheque from his
note-case. Here are twenty-five thous-
and francs. The signature is that OF the
charming Nine. Errington herself. The
letters, and a little signed word. just
little word, Mademoiselle. / am cheva-
lier d'industrie. have a wife and
you. I give you back your promise
Just that. And twenty-five thousand
francs. mon ami"
Never in life." exclaimed the count,
rising. You continue to insult me-
Aristide for the first time abandon
ed his lazy and tnsolent attitude ana
jumped to his feet.
And I'll continue to insult you.
canaille that you are. all through that
gesture toward the brilliant door,
way. You are dealing with Aris-
tide Pujol. Will you never under
stand? Tho letters and a confession
for twenty-five Thousand francs"
Never in life." said the count, and
he moved swiftly away.
Aristide caught him by the collar