Evening star., 1938-04-24

concerning the day by day life of croupiers.
professional gamblers and their kind.
He met Maurice de Bressac, Graoe's hus-
band. one day at the Armenonville before the
racing and they lunched together Il saw your
wife only a fortnight ago." Besserley told his
companion. "She looked just as charming as
ever - a little worried about you. as usual.
The young mans attractive but boyish face
clouded over. Il do wish she would let me run
my own affairs, he said peevishly. IF choose
to drop little money gambling she worries
about it as though we had not a sou left in
the world
STEADY. now.' Besserley demonstrated
kindly. 1T is not little you lose. remember.
1t is great deal, even when you have mil
lionaire grandfather behind you She is sensi-
bic woman and she would much rather see you
settle down. Gambling's mugs game, after
all, you know"
That depends entirely upon whether you
have any luck or not, J" the young man declared
cheerfully. "You gamble yourself. sometimes,
do you not?"
occasionally" Besserley replied. Il do it
Just as should pay a subscription to very
expensive club. You must lose in the long run
That is an old woman's wall" Maurice
laughed Take the simplest game - roulette.
Thirty-six numbers and Zero and they give you
thirty five to one against any number you like.
If you have little luck you must win some
times"
'Oh, I suppose, if you want to throw your
money away" Besserley conceded. "and if you
are sure that you are getting a fair run for it,
the tables are the best"
Il wish someone would make Grace see that.
She and my grandfather make me perfectly
sick sometimes. admit have lost few million
francs but why should they try to stop the only
thing that really amuses me in life? My grand
father can afford it well enough. He has had to
pay my debts once or twice, of course, but that
is because he does not make me sufficient
allowance"
Il don't think you would find any trouble
about the allowance if you were to settle down
and chuck the casinos of your own will, for
good" Besserley assured him. But when are
you coming south?"
"Well, you have asked me and l will tell
you, the young man replied little stubbornly.
Il am going down for the opening of the Dra-
gounil villa next week. shall not stay with
Grace because know she will try to persuade
me that gambling in private house on big
scale is the same as casino"
"You will have your own way, suppose"
Besserley remarked. "All the same, if you will
take word of advice from an older man, you
will keep your losses out of the paper. You
would feel foolish, wouldn't you, if anything
we're to happen to the old man and you found
yourself marquis of France instead of just
humble vioomte and about fifty thousand
francs year to keep the estates up on. These
elderly gentlemen are peculiar. you know"
The young man laughed.
81 am not afraid" he declared stubbornly
Besserley travelled down to the Riviera
few DAYS later in depressed frame of mind.
His work in Paris had produced results of
sort, but it was malodorous business and
even now there was no certainty about it. He
slept the night in the train, and bath as soon
as he reached the chateau and change into
light flannel clothes, made new man of him.
He rang up Grace.
my dear man," she exclaimed, where have
you been?"
"Paris," he answered. land not very happy
about it. am back now, though, and if you
tell me that you are lunching out, shall be in
desnair"