These silly little horses are no good. I
shall go somewhere where one can play comfortably at
roulette. You needn't look so shocked. I've always felt
that, given the opportunity, I should be an inveterate
gambler, and now you darlings have put the opportunity in my
way. I must drink your very good healths. Waiter, a bottle
of _Pontet Canet_. Ah, it's number seven on the wine list;
I shall plunge on number seven tonight. It won four times
running this afternoon when I was backing that silly number
five.'
``Number seven was not in a winning mood that evening.
The Brimley Bomefields, tired of watching disaster from a
distance, drew near to the table where their aunt was now an
honoured habitu
e, and gazed mournfully at the successive
victories of one and five and eight and four, which swept
`good money' out of the purse of seven's obstinate backer.
The day's losses totalled something very near two thousand
francs.
`` `You incorrigible gamblers,' said Roger chaffingly to
them, when he found them at the tables.
`` `We are not gambling,' said Christine freezingly; 'we
are looking on.'
`` `I _don't_ think,' said Roger knowingly; `of course
you're a syndicate and aunt is putting the stakes on for all
of you.
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