But he looked at her and through her with royal disdain, and so passed her by.
They made their way to the table at which Piers had tried his luck the previous night, waited for and finally secured a place.
"You take it!" said Crowther.

"I believe in your luck." Piers laughed.

He staked five francs on the figure five and lost, doubled his stakes and lost again, trebled them and lost again.
"This is getting serious," said Crowther.
But still Piers laughed.

"Damn it!" he said.

"I will win to-night!" "Try another figure!" said Crowther.
But Piers refused.