Volume V Part 2 (2/2)

I sat at the left of Madaan to play, and as there were fifteen or sixteen of us I had lost about fifty sequins when my turn came, for my harlequin had not appeared once Everybody pitied me, or pretended to do so, for selfishness is the predoamesters

My turn came at last I drew my harlequin and received thirty-two sequins I left theot a thousand sequins I left fifty still on the board, and the harlequin came out for the third time The bank was broken, and the table, the cloth, the candlesticks, and the board all belonged to amesters were hissed, hooted, and turned out of doors

After the first transports were over, I saw that the ladies were in distress; for as there could be nothey did not knohat to do I consoled the that I would be banker, but with equal stakes, and that I would pay winning cards thirty-six times the stake instead of thirty-two This was pronounced char of reat losses or gains on either side By dint of entreaty I made the lady of the house accept the whole concern as a present, and a very handsoh, and my success at play was the chief topic of conversation Before leaving I asked Signora Isola-Bella and her erly accepted the invitation

When I got hohtful evening

”A very pleasant youngto dine with us to-reat attention”

”The sast other pretty things he told o to Marseilles and ask ht to ave himself all this trouble he would be woefully misled, as he would not see me”

”Why not?”

”Because I should be in a nunnery My kind good father will forgive n, which I hope you will abandon You have all that would make the happiness of a worthy husband The more I think it over, the more I am convinced of the truth of what I say”

We said no more just then, for she needed rest Annette caoodness of irl behaved to her mistress did not escape ently re her to do her duty better for the future Instead of answering with a caress, as she ought to have done, she began to cry

”My dear child,” said I, ”your tears weary me You are only here to ao”

This hurt her foolish feelings of vanity, and she got up and went aithout a word, leavingI told her, in a stern voice, that if she playedto soothe ain I sent her out of the rooht no more about it, but presently my niece came in and asked me why I had vexed poor Annette

”My dear niece,” said I, ”tell her to behave better or else I will send her back to her ave me no reply, but took a handful of silver and fled I had not tiular conduct, for Annette ca her crowns in her pocket, and prory any more

Such was my niece She knew I adored her, and she loved h she ave her In the code of feminine coquetry such cases are nuratulatedbefore

”Who told you about it?”

”I have just been at the coffee-house, where everybody is talking of it

It was a wonderful victory, for those biribanti are knaves of the first water Your adventure is reat noise, for everyone says that you could not have broken their bank unless you had ”

”My dear fellow, I am tired of you Here, take this piece of money for your wife and be off”