TO THE VILLA MIMOSA With feet that seemed to touch nothing more substantial than air, her eyes brilliant, a wonderful colour in her cheeks, Violet passed through the heavy, dingy rooms and out through the motley crowd into the portico of the Casino.

She was right! She knew that she had been right! How wise she had been to borrow that money from Mr.Draconmeyer instead of sitting down and confessing herself vanquished! The last few hours had been hours of ecstatic happiness.

With calm confidence she had sat in her place and watched her numbers coming up with marvellous persistence.
It was the most wonderful thing in the world, this.

She had had no time to count her winnings, but at least she knew that she could pay back every penny she owed.

Her little gold satchel was stuffed with notes and plaques.