Sentence:  Either the child is frightened by her three consecutive losses, and hesitates, or else the combination for which she is waiting has not yet arisen. Ninety-nine people in the hundred would surmise the former. I, who know Angélique better, and know if ever <WSD>beau joueur</WSD>&mdash;or rather, I suppose, belle joueuse&mdash;was born, it is that small slight child at my side, think otherwise. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A gambler, especially if skilled.