A curious sense of excitement stole into his blood.
"If you are not playing here, will you come and sit down for a few moments ?" he invited.

"I should like to talk to you." She followed him without a word.

He led the way to one of the divans in the roulette room.
"Your favourite place," he remarked, "is occupied." She nodded.
"I have given up playing," she told him.
He looked at her in some surprise.

She drew a little breath and kept her eyes steadily averted.
"You will probably know sometime or other," she continued, "so I will tell you now.

I have lost four thousand pounds to Mr.Draconmeyer.I am going back to England to realise my own money, so as to be able to pay him at once." "You borrowed four thousand pounds from Mr.Draconmeyer ?" he repeated incredulously.
"Yes! It was very foolish, I know, and I have lost every penny of it.