第6章

"Yes，miss；andseentoitallhisself:leastways，Ifoundthethingsproperlymuddled。"Twastobeseenamanhadbeenat"em。"

Rosaretired，leavingZoe"sfaceapicture。

JustthenVizardputhisheadcautiouslyinatthewindow，andsaid，inacomicwhisper，"Isshegone?"

"Yes，sheisgone，"criedZoe，"andyouarewantedinherplace。"Sherantomeethim。"Whoorderedafireinmyroom，andmuddledallmythings?"

saidshe，severely。

"Idid。Whatofthat?"

"Oh，nothing。OnlynowIknowwhoismyfriend。Youngpeople，here"salessonforyou。Whenaladyisoutintherain，don"tpreparealectureforher，likeAuntMaitland，butlightherfire，likethisdearoldduckofawoman-hatingimpostor。Kissme!"(violently)。

"There——pest!"

"Thatisnotenough，norhalf。There，andthere，andthere，andthere，andthere，andthere。"

"Nowlookhere，myyoungfriend，"saidVizard，holdingherlovelyheadbybothears，"youareexcitingyourselfaboutnothing，andthatwillendinoneofyourheadaches。So，justtakeyourcandle，andgotobed，likeagoodlittlegirl。"

"MustI?Well，then，Iwill。Goodby，tyrantdear。Oh，howIloveyou!

Come，Fanny。"

ShegaveherhandshylytoSeverne，andsoontheywerebothinZoe"sroom。

Rosawasdismissed，andtheyhadtheirchat；butitwasnearlyallononeside。Fannyhadplentytosay，butdidnotsayit。Shehadnotthehearttocloudthatbeamingfaceagainsosoon；shetemporized:Zoepressedherwithquestionstoo；butsheslurredthings，ZoeaskedherwhyMissMaitlandwassobitteragainstMr。Severne。Fannysaid，inanoff-handway，"Oh，itisonlyonyouraccountsheobjectstohim。"

"Andwhatareherobjections?"

"Oh，onlygrammaticalones，dear。Shesayshis_antecedents_areobscure，andhis_relatives_unknown，ha!ha!ha!"Fannylaughed，butZoedidnotseethefun。ThenFannystrokedherdown。

"Nevermindthatoldwoman。Ishallinterfereproperly，ifIseeyouindanger。Itwasmonstroushermakingan_esclandre_attheverydinner-table，andspoilingyourhappyday。"

"Butshehasn"t!"criedZoe，eagerly。""All"swellthatendswell。"Iamhappy——oh，sohappy!Youloveme。Harringtonlovesme。_He_lovesme。

Whatmorecananywomanaskforthantobe_ambatabene?"_

ThiswasthelastwordbetweenZoeandFannyuponSt。Brooch"sday。

AsFannywenttoherownroom，thevigilantMaitlandopenedherdoorthatlookeduponthecorridorandbeckonedherin。"Well，"saidshe，"didyouspeaktoZoe?"

"Justawordbeforedinner。Aunt，shecameinwet，totheskin，andinhigherspiritsthanRosaeverknewher。"

Auntgroaned。

"Andwhatdoyouthink?Herspoileddress，sheorderedittobeironedandputby。_Itisacase。"_

Nextdaytheyallmetatalatebreakfast，andgoodhumorwastheorderoftheday。ThisencouragedZoetothrowoutafeeleraboutthegambling-tables。ThenFannysaiditmustbenicetogamble，becauseitwassonaughty。"Inalongexperience，"saidMissDover，withasigh，"I

havefoundthatwhateverisniceisnaughty，andwhateverisnaughtyisnice。"

"There"sashortcodeofmorals，"observedVizard，"fortheuseofseminaries。NowletushearSeverne；heknowsallthedefensesofgamblinglunacyhasdiscovered。"

Severne，thusappealedto，saidplaywaslikeotherthings，badonlywhencarriedtoexcess。"AtHomburg，wheretheplayisfair，whatharmcantherebeindevotingtwoorthreehoursofalongdayto_trenteetquarante?_Theplayexercisesmemory，judgment，_sangfroid，_andothergoodqualitiesofthemind。Aboveall，itisonthesquare。Now，buyingandsellingshareswithoutdelivery，bulling，andbearing，andrigging，andStockExchangespeculationsingeneral，arejustasmuchgambling；

butwithcardsallmarked，anddiceloaded，andthefairplayerhasnochance。Theworld，"saidthisyouthfulphilosopher，"istakeninbywords。Thetruthis，thatgamblingwithcardsisfair，andgamblingwithoutcardsaswindle。"

"HeishardupontheCity，"saidtheVizard；"butnomatter。Proceed，youngman。Developyourcodeofmoralsfortheamusementofmankind，whiledullerspiritsinflictinstruction。"

"Youhavegotmyopinion，"saidSeverne。"Obligeuswithyours。"

"No；minewouldnotbepopularjustnow:Ireserveittillwearethere，andcanseethelunaticsatwork。"

"Oh，thenwearetogo，"criedFanny。"Oh，bejoyful!"

"ThatdependsonMissMaitland。Itisnotinmydepartment。"

InstantlyfourbrighteyeswereturnedpiteouslyontheawfulMaitland。

"Oh，aunt，"saidZoe，pleadingly，"doyouthinktherewouldbeanygreatharminour——justforonceinaway?"

"Mydear，"saidMissMaitland，solemnly，"IcannotsaythatIapproveofpublicgamblingingeneral。ButatHomburgthecompanyisselect。IhaveseenaGermanprince，aRussianprince，andtwoEnglishcountesses，thevery_e"lite_ofLondonsociety，seatedatthesametableintheKursaal。

Ithink，therefore，therecanbenoharminyourgoing，undertheconductofolderpersons——myself，forexample，andyourbrother。"

"Codethree，"suggestedVizard——"thechaperoniancode。"

"Andaverygoodone，too，"saidZoe。"But，aunt，mustwelookon，ormayweplayjustalittle，little?"

"Mydear，therecanbenogreatharminplayingalittle，in_goodcompany_——ifyouplaywithyourownmoney。"ShemusthaveonedigatSeverne。

"Ishan"tplayverydeep，then，"saidFanny；"forIhavegotnomoneyhardly。"

Vizardcametothefront，likeaman。"NomoreshouldI，"saidhe，"butforHerries&Co。Asitis，IamaCroesus，andIshallstandonehundredpounds，whichyouthreeladiesmustdivide；andbetweenyou，nodoubt，youwillbreakthebank。"

Acclamationsgreetedthispieceofmisogyny。Whentheyhadsubsided，Severnewascalledontoexplainthegame，andshowtheyoungladieshowtowinafortunewiththirty-threepoundssixshillingsandeightpence。

Thetablewaspartlycleared，twopacksofcardssentfor，andtheprofessorlectured。

"This，"saidhe，"isthecreamofthegame。Sixpacksareproperlyshuffled，andproperlycut；theplayersputtheirmoneyonblackorred，whichisthemainevent，andissettledthus:Thedealerdealsthecardsintworows。Hedealsthe_first_rowforblack，andstopsthemomentthecardspassthirty。Thatdealdetermineshownear_noir_cangettothirty-one。"

Severnethendealtfor_noir，_andthecardscameasfollows:

Queenofhearts——fourofclubs——tenofspades——nineofdiamonds:total，thirty-three。"

Hethendealtforred:

Knaveofclubs——aceofdiamonds——twoofspades——kingofspades——nineofhearts:total，thirty-two。

"Redwins，becausethecardsdealtforredcomenearerthirty-one。

Besidesthat，"saidhe，"youcanbetonthecolor，oragainstit。Theactualcolorofthefirstcardtheplayerturnsupontheblacklinemustbeblackorred。Whicheverhappenstobeitiscalled"thecolor。"Sayitisred；then，iftheblacklineofcardswins，colorloses。Now，Iwilldealagainforbothevents。

"Idealfor_noir。"_

"Nineofdiamonds。Red，then，istheactualcolorturnedupontheblackline。Doyoubetforit，oragainstit?"

"Ibetforit，"criedZoe。"It"smyfavoritecolor。"

"Andwhatdoyousayonthemainevent?"

"Oh，redonthattoo。"

"Verygood。Igoondealingfor_noir。_Queenofdiamonds，threeofspades，knaveofhearts——nineofspades:thirty-two。Thatlooksuglyforyourtwoevents，blackcomingsonearasthirty-two。Nowforred。Fourofhearts，knaveofspades，sevenofdiamonds，queenofclubs——thirty-one，byJove!_Rougegagne，etcouleur。_Thereisnothinglikecourage。Youhavewonbothevents。"

"Oh，whatanicegame!"criedZoe。

Hethencontinuedtodeal，andtheyallbetonthemaineventandthecolor，stakingfabuloussums，tillatlastbothnumberscameupthirty-one。

ThereuponSeverneinformedthemthathalfthestakesbelongedtohim。

Thatwasthetriflingadvantageaccordedtothebank。

"Whichtriflingadvantage，"saidVizard，"hasenrichedtheman-eatingcompany，andtheirprince，andbuilttheKursaal，andwillcleanyouallout，ifyouplaylongenough。"

"That，"saidSeverne，"Ideny。Itismorethanbalancedbytherighttheplayershaveofdoubling，tilltheygain，andbythematurityofthechances:Iwillexplainthistotheladies。Youseeexperienceprovesthatneitherrednorblackcancomeupmorethanninetimesrunning。

When，therefore，eithercolorhascomeupfourtimes，youcanputamoderatestakeontheothercolor，anddoubleonittillit_must_come，bythelawsofnature。Sayredhasturnedfourtimes。Youputanapoleononblack；redgains。Youloseanapoleon。Youdon"tremoveit，butdoubleonit。Thechancesarenowfivetooneyougain:butifyoulose，youdoubleonthesame，and，whenyouhavegottosixteennapoleons，thecolormustchange；uniformityhasreacheditsphysicallimit。Thatiscalledthematurityofthechances。Beginasunluckilyaspossiblewithfivefrancs，andlose。Ifyouhavetodoubleeighttimesbeforeyouwin，itonlycomestotwelvehundredandeightyfrancs。Given，therefore，amantowhomfiftynapoleonsarenomorethanfivefrancstous，hecanneverloseifhedoubles，likeaTrojan，tillthechancesaremature。

Thisiscalled"theMartingale:"but，observe，itonlysecuresagainstloss。Heavygainsaremadebydoublingjudiciouslyonthe_winning_

color，orbysimplybettingonshortrunsofit。Whenredcomesup，backred，anddoubletwiceonit。Thusyouprofitbytheremarkableandobservedfactthatcolorsdonot，asarule，alternate，butreachultimateequalitybyavoidingalternation，andmakingshortruns，withoccasionallongruns；thelatterarerare，andmustbewatchedwithaviewtothebalancingrunoftheothercolor。Thisismysystem。"

"Andyoureallythinkyouhaveinventedit?"askedVizard。

"Iamnotsoconceited。Mysystemwascommunicatedtome，intheKursaalitself——byanoldgentleman。"

_"An_oldgentleman，or_the_——?"

"Oh，Harrington，"criedZoe，"fie!"

"Mywitisappreciatedatitsvalue。Proceed，Ned。"

Severnetoldhim，alittledefiantly，itwasanoldgentleman，withanoblehead，asilverybeard，andthemostbenevolentcountenanceheeversaw。

"Curiousplaceforhisreverencetobein，"hazardedVizard。

"Hesawmebetting，firstontheblack，thenonthered，tillIwascleanedout，andthenhebeckonedme。"

"Notamanofprematureadviceanyway。"

"Hetoldmehehadobservedmyplay。Ihadbeenrelyingonthealternationsofthecolors，whichalternationchancepersistentlyavoids，andarrivesatequalitybyruns。Hethengavemeabettersystem。"

"And，havingexpoundedhissystem，heillustratedit?Tellthetruthnow；

hesatdownandlostthecoatoffhisback?Itfollowedhisfamilyacres。"

"Youarequitewrongagain。Heneverplays。Hehasheart-disease，andhisphysicianhasforbiddenhimallexcitement。"

"Hisnation?"

"Humph!French。"

"Ah!thenationthatproduced_"Lephilosophesanslesavoir。"_Andnowithasadded，_"Lephilosophesanslevouloir，"_andyouhavestumbledonhim。Whatalifeforanagedman!_Fortunatusillesenexquiludicolavivit。_Tantalushandcuffedandgloweringoveragambling-table；ahellinahell。"

"Oh，Harrington!——"

"Exclamationsnotallowedinsoberargument，Zoe。"

"Come，Ned，itisnotheart-disease，itispursedisease。Justdomeafavor。Herearefivesovereigns；givethosetotheoldbeggar，andlethimriskthem。"

"Icouldhardlytakesuchalibertywithanoldgentlemanofhisageandappearance——amanofhonortoo，andhighsentiments。Why，I"dbetseventofourheisoneofNapoleon"soldsoldiers。"

TheladiessidedunanimouslywithSeverne。"What!offera_vieuxdel"Empire_fivepounds?Oh，fie!"

"Fiddle-dee-dee!"saidtheindomitableVizard。"Besides，hewilldoitwithhisusualgrace。HewillapproachthesonofMarswiththatfeignedhumilitywhichsitssowellonyouth，andaskhim，asapersonalfavor，toinvestfivepoundsforhimat_rouge-et-noir。_Theoldsoldierwillstiffenintodoubledignityatfirst，thengivehimalowwink，andendbysittingdownandgambling。Hewillbecautiousatstarting，asonewhoopenstrenchesforthesiegeofMammon；butsoontheveteranwillgetheated，andgivebattle；hewillfancyhimselfatJena，sincethecroupiersarePrussians。Ifheloses，youcuthimdead，beingahumdrumEnglishman；andifhewins，hecutsyou，andpocketsthecash，beingaFrenchmanthattalkssentiment。"

Thissallyprovokedalaugh，inwhichSevernejoined，andsaid，"Really，foralandedproprietor，youknowathingortwo。"Heconsentedatlast，withsomereluctance，totakethemoney；andnoneofthepersonspresentdoubtedthathewouldexecutethecommissionwithagraceanddelicacyallhisown。Nevertheless，torunforwardalittlewiththenarrative，I

musttellyouthatheneverdidhandthatfivepoundtothevenerablesire；alittlethingpreventedhim——theoldmanwasn"tbornyet。

"Andnow，"saidVizard，"itisourlastdayinHomburg。Youareallgoingtogratifyyourmania——lunacyiscontagious。SupposeIgratifymine。"

"Dodear，"saidZoe；"andwhatisit?"

"Ilikeyouraskingthat；whenitwaspubliclyannouncedlastnight，andIfleddiscomfitedtomybalcony，and，inmyconfusion，lightedacigar。

Mymaniais——theKlosking。"

"Thatisnotamania；itisgoodtaste。Sheisadmirable。"

"Yes，inanopera；butIwanttoknowhowshelooksandtalksinaroom；

andthatisinsaneofme。"

"Thensoyou_shall，_insaneornot。Iwillcallonherthismorning，andtakeyouinmyhand。"

"Whatanamplepalm!andwhatjuvenileaudacity!Zoe，youtakemybreathaway。"

"Noaudacityatall。Iamsureofmywelcome。HowoftenmustItellyouthatwehavemesmerizedeachother，thatladyandI，andonlywaitinganopportunitytorushintoeachother"sarms。Itbeganwithhersinglingmeoutattheopera。ButIdaresaythatwasowing，_atfirst，_onlytomybeinginfulldress。

"No，no；toyourbeing，likeAgamemnon，aheadtallerthanalltheotherGreeks。"

"Harrington!IamnotaGreek。IamathoroughEnglishgirlatheart，thoughIamasblackasacoal。"

"Noapologyneededinourpresentframe。Youareallthemoreliketheaceofspades。"

"DoyouwantmetotakeyoutotheKlosking，sir?Thenyouhadbetternotmakefunofme。Itellyoushesungto_me，_andsmiledon_me，_andcourtesiedto_me；_and，nowyouhaveputitintomyhead，Imeantocalluponher，andIwilltakeyouwithme。WhatIshalldo，Ishallsendinmycard。Ishallbeadmitted，andyouwillwaitoutside。Assoonassheseesme，shewillruntomewithbothhandsout，andsay，inexcellent_French，_Ihope，_"How，_mademoiselle!youhavedeignedtorememberme，andtohonormewithavisit。"ThenIshallsay，inschool-French，"Yes，madame；excusetheintrusion，butIwassocharmedwithyourperformance。

WeleaveHomburgto-morrow，andas，unfortunatelyformyself，Icannothavethepleasureofseeingyouagainuponthestage——"thenIshallstop，forhertointerruptme。Thenshewillinterruptme，andsaycharmingthings，asonlyforeignerscan；andthenIshallsay，stillinschool-French，"Madame，Iamnotalone。Ihavemybrotherwithme。Headoresmusic，andwasasfascinatedwithyourSiebelasmyself。MayI

presenthim?"Thenshewillsay，"Oh，yes，byallmeans；"andIshallintroduceyou。Thenyoucanmakelovetoher。Thatwillbedroll。Fanny，I"lltellyoueverywordhesays。"

"Makelovetoher!"criedVizard。"Isthisyourestimateofabrother"smotives。Myobjectinvisitingthisladyis，nottofeedmymania，buttocureit。Ihaveseenheronthestage，lookingliketheincarnationofapoet"sdream。Iam_extasie"_withher。Nowletmecatchher_ende"shabille，_withherporterononeside，andherloverontheother:

andsotoDevonshire，relievedofafatalillusion。"

"Ifthatisyourview，I"llgobymyself；forIknowsheisanoblewoman，andasmuchaladyoffthestageasonit。MyonlyfearisshewilltalkthatdreadfulgutturalGerman，withits"oches"andits"aches，"andthenwhereshallweallbe?WemustaskMr。Severnetogowithus。"

"Agoodidea。No——avileone。Heisabominablyhandsome，andhasthegiftofthegab——inGerman，andotherlanguages。Heissuretocutmeout，thevillain!Lookhimup，somebody，tillwecomeback。"

"Now，Harrington，don"tbeabsurd。Hemust，andshall，beoftheparty。I

havemyreasons。Mr。Severne，"saidshe，turningonhimwithablushandadivinesmile，"youwillobligeme，Iamsure。"

Severne"sfaceturnedasblankasadoll"s，andhesaidnothing，onewayorother。

ItwassettledthattheyshouldallmeetattheKursaalatfour，todineandplay。ButZoeandherpartywouldgoonaheadbytheone-o"clocktrain；andsosheretiredtoputonherbonnet——atechnicalexpression，whichimpliesagooddeal。

Fannywentwithher，and，aseventsmoreexcitingthantheusualroutineoftheiryoungliveswereahead，theirtongueswentararepace。Buttheonlythingworthpresentingtothereadercameattheend，afterthesaidbusinessofthetoilethadbeendispatched。

Zoesaid，"Imustgonow，orIshallkeepthemwaiting。"

"Onlyone，dear，"saidFannydryly。

"Whyonlyone?"

"Mr。Severnewillnotgo。"

"Thathewill:Imadeapointofit。"

"Youdid，dear?butstillhewillnotgo。"

Therewassomethinginthis，andinFanny"stone，thatstartledZoe，andpuzzledhersorely。Sheturnedrounduponherwithflashingeye，andsaid，"Nomysteries，please，dear。Whywon"thegowithmewhereverIaskhimtogo?or，rather，whatmakesyouthinkhewon"t?"

SaidFanny，thoughtfully:"Icouldnottellyou，allinamoment，whyI

feelsopositive。Oneputslittlethingstogetherthatarenothingapart:

oneobservesfaces；Ido，atleast。Youdon"tseem，tome，tobesoquickatthatasmostgirls。But，Zoedear，youknowverywelloneoftenknowsathingforcertain，yetonedoesn"tknowexactlywhatmakesoneknowit。"

NowZoe"s_amourpropre_waswoundedbyFanny"ssuggestionthatSevernewouldnotgotoHomburg，or，indeed，totheworld"sendwithher；soshedrewherselfupinhergrandway，andfoldedherarmsandsaid，alittlehaughtily，"Thentellmewhatisityouknowabout_him_andme，withoutknowinghowonearthyouknowit。"

ThesupercilioustoneandgrandmannernettledFanny，anditwasn"t"broochday；"shestooduptoherloftycousinlikealittlegame-cock。

"Iknowthis，"saidshe，withheightenedcheek，andflashingeyesandavoiceofsteel，"youwillnevergetMr。EdwardSeverneintooneroomwithZoeVizardandInaKlosking。"

ZoeVizardturnedverypale，buthereyesflasheddefianceonherfriend。

"ThatI"llknow!"saidshe，inadeepvoice，withalittlegasp，butaworldofprideandresolution。

CHAPTERVII。

THEladieswentdowntogether，andfoundVizardready。Mr。Severnewasnotintheroom。Zoeinquiredafterhim。

"Gonetogetasun-shade，"saidVizard。

"There!"saidZoetoFanny，inatriumphantwhisper。"Whatisthatforbuttogowithus?"

Fannymadenoreply。

TheywaitedsometimeforSeverneandhissun-shade。

AtlastVizardlookedathiswatch，andsaidtheyhadonlyfiveminutestospare。"Comedown，andlookafterhim。He_must_besomewhereabout。"

TheywentdownandlookedforhimalloverthePlatz。Hewasnottobeseen。AtlastVizardtookouthiswatch，andsaid，"Itissomemisunderstanding:wecan"twaitanylonger。"

SoheandZoewenttothetrain。NeithersaidmuchonthewaytoHomburg；

fortheywerebothbrooding。Vizard"sgoodsenseandrightfeelingwerebeginningtostinghimalittleforcallingontheKloskingatall，andagreatdealforusingtheenthusiasmofaninexperiencedgirltoobtainanintroductiontoapublicsinger。Hesatmoodyinhiscorner，takinghimselftotask。Zoe"sthoughtsraninquiteanotherchannel；butshewasnoeasierinhermind。ItreallyseemedasifSevernehadgivenhertheslip。Probablyhewouldexplainhisconduct；but，then，thatFannyshouldforetellhewouldavoidhercompany，ratherthancallonMademoiselleKlosking，andthatFannyshouldberight——thismadethethingserious，andgalledZoetothequick:shewasangrywithFannyforprophesyingtruly；shewasratherangrywithSevernefornotcoming，andmoreangrywithhimformakinggoodFanny"sprediction。

ZoeVizardwasagoodgirlandagenerousgirl，butshewasnotahumblegirl:shehadagreatdealofpride，andhershareofvanity，andherebothweregalled。Besidesthat，itseemedtohermoststrangeanddishearteningthatFanny，whodidnotloveSeverne，shouldbeabletoforetellhisconductbetterthanshe，whodidlovehim:suchforesightlookedlikegreaterinsight。Allthishumiliatedandalsopuzzledherstrangely；andsoshesatbroodingasdeeplyasherbrother。

AsforVizard，bythetimetheygottoHomburghehadmadeuphismind。

Astheygotoutofthetrain，hesaid，"Lookhere，Iamashamedofmyself。Ihavearighttoplaythefoolalone；butIhavenobusinesstodragmysisterintoit。Wewillgosomewhereelse。Therearelotsofthingstosee。IgiveuptheKlosking。"

Zoestaredathimamoment，andthenanswered，withcolddecision，"No，dear；youmustallowmetocallonher，nowIamhere。Shewon"tbite_me。"_

"Well，butitisastrangethingtodo。"

"Whatdoesthatmatter?Weareabroad。"

"Come，Zoe，Iammuchobligedtoyou；butgiveitup。"

"No，dear。"

Harringtonsmiledatherprettyperemptoriness，andmisunderstoodit。

"Thisiscarryingsisterlylovealongway，"saidhe。"Imusttryandrisetoyourlevel。Iwon"tgowithyou。"

"ThenIshallgoalone。"

"WhatifIforbidyou，miss?"

Shetappedhimonthecheekwithherfingers。"Don"taffectthetyrant，dear；youcan"tmanageit。Fannysaidsomethingthathasmortifiedme。I

shallgo。Youcandoasyoulike。But，stop；wheredoesshelive?"

"SupposeIdeclinetotellyou?Iamseizedwithavirtuousfit——aregularparoxysm。"

"ThenIshallgototheoperaandinquire，dear。But"(coaxingly)"youwilltellme，dear。"

"There，"saidHarrington，"youwicked，temptinggirl，myshamvirtuehasoozedaway，andmyrealmaniatriumphs。Shelivesat"TheGoldenStar。"I

wasweakenoughtosendHarrisinlastnighttolearn。"Zoesmiled。

Hehailedaconveyance；andtheystartedatoncefor"TheGoldenStar。"

"Zoe，"saidHarringtongravely，"somethingtellsmeIamgoingtomeetmyfate。"

"Allthebetter，"saidZoe。"Iwishyoutomeetyourfate。Myloveformybrotherisnotselfish。Iamsuresheisagoodwoman。PerhapsImayfindoutsomething。"

"Aboutwhat?"

"Oh，nevermind。"

CHAPTERVIII。

ALLthistimeInaKloskingwasrehearsingatthetheater，quiteunconsciousoftheimpendingvisit。Aroyalpersonagehadcommanded"IlBarbiere，"thepartofRosinatoberestoredtotheoriginalkey。Itwaswrittenforacontralto，buttransposedbytheinfluenceofGrisi。

Havingnoperformancethatnight，theybegantorehearseratherlaterthanusual，anddidnotleaveofftillaquartertofouro"clock。Ina，whosufferedagooddealatrehearsalsfromtheinaccuracyandapathyofthepeople，wenthomefagged，andwithherthroatparched——sodoesabadrehearsalaffectallgoodandearnestartists。

Sheorderedacutlet，withpotatochips，andlaydownonthesofa。Whileshewasreposing，cameJosephAshmead，tocheerher，withgoodphotographsofher，takenthedaybefore。Shesmiledgratefullyathiszeal。HealsoremindedherthathehadorderstotakehertotheKursaal:

hesaidthetableswouldbewellfilledfromfiveo"clocktillquitelate，therebeingnootherentertainmentonfootthatevening。

Inathankedhim，andsaidshewouldnotmissgoingonanyaccount；butshewasratherfatiguedandfaint。

"Oh，I"llwaitforyouaslongasyoulike，"saidAshmead，kindly。

"No，mygoodcomrade，"saidIna。"Iwillaskyoutogotothemanagerandgetmealittlemoney，andthentotheKursaalandsecuremeaplaceatthetableinthelargestroom。ThereIwilljoinyou。If_he_isnotthere——andIamnotsomadastothinkhewillbethere——Ishallriskafewpiecesmyself，tobenearerhiminmind。"

ThisamazedAshmead；itwassounlikeher。"Youarejoking，"saidhe。

"Why，ifyoulosefivenapoleonsatplay，itwillbeyourdeath；youwillgrizzleso。"

"Yes；butIshallnotlose。Iamtoounluckyinlovetoloseatcards。I

meantoplaythisafternoon；andneveragaininallmylife。Sir，Iamresolved。"

"Oh，ifyouareresolved，thereisnomoretobesaid。Iwon"trunmyheadagainstabrickwall。"

Ina，beinghalfaforeigner，thoughtthisratherbrusk。Shelookedathimaskant，andsaid，quietly，"Others，besidesme，canbestubborn，andgettheirownway，whilespeakingthelanguageofsubmission。NotIinventedvolition。"

Withthisfleainhisear，thefaithfulJosephwentoff，chuckling，andobtainedanadvancefromthemanager，andthenproceededtotheprincipalgaming-table，and，afterwaitingsometime，securedachair，whichhekeptforhischief。

Anhourwentby；anhourandahalf。Hewasobliged，forveryshame，tobet。Thishedid，fivefrancsatatime；andhisriskwassosmall，andhislucksoeven，thatbydegreeshewasdrawnintoconversationwithhisneighbor，ayoungswell，whowaswatchingtherunofthecolors，andbettinginsilver，andprickingacard，preparatorytogoinginforagreat_coup。_MeantimehefavoredMr。Ashmeadwithhistheoryofchances，andAshmeadlistenedverypolitelytoeveryword；becausehewasratherproudoftheother"snotice:hewassohandsome，welldressed，andwellspoken。

MeantimeInaKloskingsnatchedafewminutes"sleep，asmostartistscanintheafternoon，andwasawakenedbytheservantbringinginherfrugalrepast，acutletandapintofBordeaux。

Onherplatehebroughtheralargecard，onwhichwasprinted"MissZoeVizard。"Thisledtoinquiries，andhetoldheraladyofsuperlativebeautyhadcalledandleftthatcard。Inaaskedforadescription。

"Ah，madame，"saidKarl，"donotexpectdetailsfromme。Iwastoodazzled，andstruckbylightning，tomakeaninventoryofhercharms。"

"Atleastyoucantellmewasshedarkorfair。"

"Madame，shewasdarkasnight；butgloriousasthesun。HerearthlyabodeistheRussie，atFrankfort；blesthotel!"

"Didshetellyouso?"

"Indirectly。ShewroteonthecardwiththesmallestpencilIhavehithertowitnessed:thelettersarefaint，thepencilbeinginferiortothecase，whichwasgolden。Nevertheless，asoneisnaturallycurioustolearnwhenceabrightvisionhasemerged，Ipermittedmyselftodecipher。"

"Yourcuriositywasnatural，"saidIna，dryly。"Iwilldetainyouwithnomorequestions。"

Sheputthecardcarefullyaway，andeathermodestrepast。Thenshemadeherafternoontoilet，andwalked，slowlyandpensively，totheKursaal。

Nothingtherewasnewtoher，excepttobegoingtothetablewithoutthemanonwhomitwashermisfortunetohavewastedherheartofgold。

Ithink，therefore，itwouldbebetterformetoentertheplaceincompanywithournovices；and，indeed，wemust，orweshallderangethetrueorderoftimeandsequenceofincidents；for，pleaseobserve，alltheEnglishladiesofourstorymetattheKursaalwhileInawasreposingonhersofa。

Thefirst-comerswereZoeandHarrington。Theyenteredthenoblehall，inscribedtheirnames，and，bythatsimpleceremony，weremembersofaclub，comparedwithwhichthegreatestclubsinLondonarepettythings:

aclubwithspaciousdining-rooms，ball-rooms，concert-rooms，gambling-rooms，theater，anddeliciousgardens。Thebuilding，thatcombinedsomanyrichtreats，wascolossalinsize，andgloriouswithrichcolorsandgoldlaidonwithOrientalprofusion，andsometimeswithOrientaltaste。

Harringtontookhissisterthroughthedrawing-roomsfirst；andsheadmiredtheunusualloftinessoftherooms，theblazeofwhiteandgold，andof_ce"ladon_andgold，andthegreatRussianlusters，andthemightymirrors。Butwhentheygottothedining-roomshewasenchanted。Thatloftyandmagnificent_salon，_withitsdaringmixtureofredandblack，andgreenandblue，allmeltedintoharmonybytheriversofgoldthatranboldlyamongthem，wenttoherveryheart。AGreekishalfanOriental；andZoehadwhatmaybecalledthecourageofcolor。

"Glorious!"shecried，andclaspedherhands。"Andsee!whatabackgroundtotheemeraldgrassoutsideandtherubyflowers。Theyseemtocomeintotheroomthroughthosemonsterwindows。"

"Splendid!"saidHarrington，towhomallthiswasliterallyGreek。"I"msoexcited，I"llorderdinner。"

"Dinner!"saidZoe，disdainfully；andsatdownandeyedtheMoresquewallsaroundher，andthebeautiesofnatureoutside，andbroughtthemtogetherinonepicture。

HarringtonwasalongtimeinconclavewithM。Chevet。ThenZoebecameimpatient。

"Oh，doleaveofforderingdinner，"saidshe，"andtakemeouttothatotherparadise。"

TheChevetshruggedhisshoulderswithpity。Vizardshruggedhistoo，tosoothehim；and，afterafewmorehurriedwords，tooktheloverofcolorintothegarden。Itwasdelicious，withgreenslopes，andrichfoliage，andflowers，andenlivenedbybrightsilkdresses，sparklingfitfullyamongthegreenleaves，orflamingoutboldlyinthesun；and，asluckwouldhaveit，beforeZoehadtakentenstepsuponthegreensward，thebandoffiftymusiciansstruckup，andplayedasfiftymenrarelyplaytogetheroutofGermany。

Zoewasenchanted。Shewalkedonair，andbeamedasbrightasanyflowerintheplace。

Afterherfirstejaculationatthesuddenmusic，shedidnotspeakforagoodwhile；hercontentwassogreat。Atlastshesaid，"Anddotheyleavethisparadisetogambleinaroom?"

"Leaveit?Theyshunit。Thegamblersdespisetheflowers。"

"Howperversepeopleare!Excitement!Whowantsanymorethanthis?"

"Zoe，"saidVizard，"innocentexcitementcannevercompetewithvicious。"

"What，isitreallywickedtoplay?"

"Idon"tknowaboutwicked；yougirlsalwaysruntothebiggestword。

But，ifavariceisavice，gamblingcannotbevirtuous；fortherootofgamblingismereavarice，weakavarice。Come，myyoungfriend，_aswe"requitealone，_I"lldropThersites，andtalksensetoyou，foronce。

Child，therearetworoadstowealth；oneisbythewayofindustry，skill，vigilance，andself-denial；andthesearevirtues，thoughsometimestheygowithtricksoftrade，hardnessofheart，andtakingadvantageofmisfortune，tobuycheapandselldear。Theotherroadtowealthisbyboldspeculation，withriskofproportionateloss；inshort，bygamblingwithcards，orwithoutthem。Now，lookintothemindofthegambler——hewantstomakemoney，contrarytonature，andunjustly。Hewantstoberewardedwithoutmerit，tomakeafortuneinamoment，andwithoutindustry，vigilance，trueskill，orself-denial。"

Apennysavedisapennygained"doesnotenterhiscreed。Stripthethingofitsdisguise，itisavarice，sordidavarice；andIcallitweakavarice，becausethegamblerreliesonchancealone，yetacceptsunevenchances，andhopesthatFortunewillbeasmuchinlovewithhimasheiswithhimself。Whatsillyegotism!YouadmiretheKursaal，andyouareright；

thendojustaskyourselfwhyistherenothingtopayforsomanyexpensiveenjoyments:andverylittletopayforconcertsandballs；lowpricesattheopera，whichneverpaysitsownexpenses；evenChevet"sdinnersarereasonable，ifyouavoidhisshamJohannisberg。Allthesecheapdelights，thegold，thecolors，thegarden，themusic，thelights，arepaidforbythelossesoffeeble-mindedAvarice。But，there——IsaidallthistoNedSeverne，andImightaswellhavepreachedsensetothewind。"

"Harrington，Iwillnotplay。Iammuchhappierwalkingwithmygoodbrother——"

"Fautedemieux。"

Zoeblushed，butwouldnothear——"Anditissogoodofyoutomakeafriendofme，andtalksense。Oh!see——aladywithtwoblues!Comeandlookather。"

Beforetheyhadtakenfivesteps，Zoestoppedshortandsaid，"ItisFannyDover，Ideclare。Shehasnotseenusyet。Sheisshort-sighted。

Comehere。"Andtheimpetuousmaiddraggedhimoffbehindatuftoffoliage。

Whenshehadgothimthereshesaidhotlythatitwastoobad。

"Oh，isit?"saidhe，verycalmly。"What?"

"Why，don"tyouseewhatshehasdone?You，sosensible，tobesoslowaboutwomen"sways；andyouarealwayspretendingtoknowthem。Why，shehasgoneandboughtthatcostumewiththemoneyyougavehertoplaywith。"

"Sensiblegirl!"

"Dishonestgirl，_I_callher。"

"Thereyougotoyourbigwords。No，no。Alittlemoneywasgivenherforabadpurpose。Shehasuseditforafrivolousone。Thatis"astepintherightdirection"——jargonoftheday。"

"Buttoreceivemoneyforonepurpose，andapplyittoanother，is——whatdoyoucallit——_chose?——de"tournementdesfonds_——whatistheEnglishword?I"vebeenabroadtillI"veforgottenEnglish。Oh，I

know——embezzlement。"

"Well，thatisabigwordforasmalltransaction；youhavenotduginthemineofthevernacularfornothing。"

"Harrington，ifyoudon"tmind，Ido；sopleasecome。I"lltalktoher。"

"Stopamoment，"saidVizard，verygravely。"Youwillnotsayonewordtoher。"

"Andwhynot，pray?"

"Becauseitwouldbeunworthyofus，andcrueltoher；barbarouslycruel。

What!callhertoaccountbeforethatoldwomanandme?"

"Whynot?Sheisflauntingherbluesbeforeyoutwo，andplentymore。"

"Femininelogic，Zoe。Thepointisthis——sheispoor。Youmustknowthat。

Thiscomesofpovertyandloveofdress；notofdishonestyandloveofdress；andjustaskyourself，isthereacreaturethatoughttobepitiedmoreandhandledmoredelicatelythana_poorlady?_Why，youwouldmakeherwrithewithshameanddistress!Well，Idothinkthereisnotasinglewildanimalsocrueltoanotherwildanimalasawomanistoawoman。Youarecrueltooneanotherbyinstinct。ButIappealtoyourreason——ifyouhaveany。"

Zoe"seyesfilled。"Youareright，"saidshe，humbly。"Thankyouforthinkingforme。Iwillnotsayawordtoherbefore_you。"_

"Thatisagoodgirl。But，comenow，whysayawordatall?"

"Oh，itisnouseyourdemandingimpossibilities，dear。IcouldnomorehelpspeakingtoherthanIcouldfly；anddon"tgofancyingshewillcareapinwhatIsay，ifIdon"tsayitbefore_agentleman。"_

Havinggivenhimthispieceofinformation，sheleftherambush，andproceededtomeettheall-unconsciousbluegirl；but，evenastheywent，Vizardreturnedtohisnormalcondition，anddoledout，ratherindolently，thattheywereoutonpleasure，andmightpossiblymisstheobjectoftheexcursioniftheyweretoencourageahabitofgettingintoragesaboutnothing。

Zoewasbetterthanherword。ShemetFannywithopenadmiration:tobesure，sheknewthatapathy，oreventranquillity，onfirstmeetingtheblues，wouldbeinstantlysetdowntoenvy。

"Andwheredidyougetit，dear?"

"Atquiteasmallshop。"

"French?"

"Oh，no；IthinkshewasanAustrian。ThisisnotaFrenchmixture:loud，discordantcolors，thatistheFrenchtaste。"

"Hereisheresy，"saidVizard。"Why，IthoughttheFrenchbeattheworldindress。"

"Yes，dear，"saidZoe，"informandpattern。ButFannyisright；theymakemistakesincolor。Theyareterriblyafraidofscarlet；buttheyareafraidofnothingelse:andmanyoftheirmixturesareasdiscordanttotheeyeasWagner"smusictotheear。Now，afterall，scarletisthekingofcolors；andthereisnoharminKingScarlet，ifyoutreathimwithrespectandputamodestsubjectnexttohim。"

"Gypsylocks，forinstance，"suggestedFanny，slyly。

MissMaitlandownedherselfpuzzled。"Inmyday，"saidshe，"nooneeverthoughtofputtingblueuponblue；butreally，somehow，itlookswell。"

"MayItellyouwhy，aunt?——becausethedress-makerhadarealeye，andhaschosentherighttintsofblue。Itisallnonsenseaboutonecolornotgoingwithanother。Naturedefiesthat；andhow?bychoosingtheverytintsofeachcolorthatwillgotogether。ThesweetestroomIeversawwaspaintedbyagreatartist；and，doyouknow，hehadcoloredtheceilingblueandthewallsgreen:andIassureyoutheeffectwasheavenly:but，then，hehadchosentheexacttintsofgreenandbluethatwouldgotogether。Thedraperieswerebetweencrimsonandmaroon。Butthere"sanotherthinginFanny"sdress；itisvelvet。Now，bluevelvetisbluetothemind；butitisnotbluetotheeye。Youtryandpaintbluevelvet；youwillbesurprisedhowmuchwhiteyoumustlayon。Thehighlightsofallvelvetsarewhite。Thiswhitehelpstoblendthetwotintsofblue。"