I propose to find her a little occupation.' By dint of a carefully-exercised diplomacy, Racksole manoeuvred himself into a seat opposite to the lady in the red hat.

The fame of his success at the other table had followed him, and people regarded him as a serious and formidable player.

In the first turn the lady put a thousand francs on double zero; Racksole put a hundred on number nineteen and a thousand on the odd numbers.
Nineteen won.

Racksole received four thousand four hundred francs.

Nine times in succession Racksole backed number nineteen and the odd numbers; nine times the lady backed double zero.