Volume I Part 71 (1/2)

”Since that tioes to the casino, and continues to mix in society, but does not see company at her own house, and lives in perfect accord with her husband”

”How did the husband take it all?”

”Quite well, and like an intelligent, sensible man He said that, if his wife had acted differently, he would have applied for a divorce, because in that case no one would have entertained a doubt of her being guilty”

”That husband is indeed a sensible fellow It is certain that, if his wife had given the lie to the indiscreet officer, he would have paid the bet, but he would have stood by what he had said, and everybody would have believed hi him the winner of the bet she has cut the ment by which she would have been dishonoured The inconsiderate boaster was guilty of a double mistake for which he paid the penalty of his life, but his adversary was as htly- If the one who says yes is imprudent, the one who says no is a dupe I like the lady's presence of mind”

”But what sentence would you pass on her Guilty or not guilty?”

”Not guilty”

”I am of the same opinion, and it has been the verdict of the public likewise, for she has since been treated even better than before the affair You will see, if you go to the casino, and I shall be happy to introduce you to her”

I invited the officer to sup with us, and we spent a very pleasant evening After he had gone, I re the rules of propriety She had taken a bedroos of her respectable fellow-dancer

When I arrived in Mantua, I put up at St Mark's hotel Marina, to whoiven a notice that my intention was to call on her but seldoned to her by the theatrical er

In the afternoon of the sa about, I went into a bookseller's shop to ascertain whether there was any neork out I reht had co to be closed, I went out I had only gone a few yards when I was arrested by a patrol, the officer of which told ht o'clock had struck, his duty was to take uardhouse It was in vain that I observed that, having arrived only in the afternoon, I could not know that order of the police I was couardhouse, the officer of the patrol introduceded him to let me return to hed and answered, ”No, indeed, I want you to spend a joyous night with ive ain, he said, ”I only consider you, uest”

I could not help being amused at such a novel ave some orders to a German soldier, and soon afterwards the table was laid out for four persons The two other officers joined us, and we had a very gay supper When the desert had been served the co, dissolute fereen cloth was spread over the table, and one of the officers began a faro bank I punted so as not to appear unwilling to join the ga a few sequins I went out to breathe the fresh air, for we had drunk freely One of the two females followed me, teased me, and finally contrived, in spite of iain

A young and pleasant officer, who had lost so like a trooper because the banker had pocketed his old before hiht to have warned hiame

”Sir,” I said to hi, for faro is the freest of games Why do you not take the bank yourself?”

”It would be too h foramuses you, take the bank and I will punt”

”Captain,” I said, ”will you take a fourth share in ive notice that I will lay the cards down after six games”

I asked for new packs of cards, and put three hundred sequins on the table The captain wrote on the back of a card, ”Good for a hundred sequins, O'Neilan,” and placing it with hted, and said to ht be defunct before the end of the sixth game”

I did not answer, and the play went on

At the beginning of the fifth ga officer was in high glee I rather astonished hiht hi

There are some civilities which very likely prove unlucky for those to whom they are addressed, and it turned out so in this case, for ame, a run of adverse cards made him lose all he had won, and as he tried to do violence to Dame Fortune in the sixth round, he lost every sequin he had

”Sir,” he said to ive reatest pleasure, sir, but I never play except when I am under arrest”

I counted my money, and found that I had o hundred and fifty sequins, besides a debt of fifty sequins due by an officer who played on trust which Captain O'Neilan took on his own account I coo away

As soon as I got to my hotel, I went to bed, and when I awoke, I had a visit from Captain Laurent, the officer who had played on trust