Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ What number will you choose?”
“If I were you,” said Angus Stuart, “I should back twelve numbers. If you put your money on only one number you've thirty-five chances against you.”
Lily hesitated. “Yes, do as he advises,” said M. Popeau good-naturedly.
And so Lily, guided by the Frenchman, put her small coloured counters on the middle dozen; thus she covered the numbers 13 to 24.
The croupier behind whom Lily was standing gave the huge wheel a powerful twist, then he flung a little ball into the revolving disc. It spun round and round, jumping about as if possessed by the spirit of motion. ”

“ And then, straightening himself, remarked with an air of rather elaborate unconcern, “Well, Popeau, how goes it? Have you broken the bank?”
“I have not broken the bank, but I have made two hundred francs!” replied the Frenchman gaily. “And that, after all, is not bad! At one moment I had made a good deal more, but alas! twice number fifteen turned up and swept away a hundred francs of my winnings. I was very foolish not to leave off—as Mademoiselle so wisely did.” ”

“ Lily laughed, and blushed. The problem had never been put to her before.
“I suppose one can't help being rather affected by a human being's outward appearance,” she answered; then added, with a little smile on her pretty face: “At any rate, men are very much influenced by appearance, aren't they, M. Popeau?” ”

“ Hercules Popeau had been almost disappointed to find that, as reputations go, in that curious cosmopolitan world which has its social centre in Rome, Count Beppo Polda had by no means a bad reputation. In fact, he was popular both with men—for he was a good sportsman—and with women. ”

“ Ponting bought from an old woman gambler?”
“Extraordinary indeed,” answered the Frenchman drily. “I wish you'd ask him the exact date of his purchase of it, Mademoiselle.”
“I will,” said Lily. Then something prompted her to add, “I hope you like Beppo Polda? I can't quite make him out, yet he seems so very much nicer than I expected him to be.”
M. Popeau evaded her question. “I agree with you,” he said; “he is very much nicer than one would expect the son of either his father or his mother to be. Also, Mademoiselle, he is extremely, quite exceptionally, handsome.” ”

“ It was to her so strange that everybody didn't play like Papa Popeau if he won every time.
“You see, he covers nearly the whole of the board,” muttered Captain Stuart. “He only loses right out when six numbers turn up out of the thirty-five. Even when zero comes he doesn't lose everything, for the money he has on passe is only 'put into prison,' as they call it. ”

“ Oh no”; the Frenchman looked curiously surprised. “When I said that Count Beppo Polda is in love, I mean the phrase in a general sense. He is in love with love——”
“Oh! Is that all?” Lily felt relieved.
M. Popeau went on: “The Count, for the moment, is what you call in England fancy free. Still, he is now absorbed in a very important quest—that of finding for himself a rich wife. Meanwhile he, of course, amuses himself——” he said the words in a very significant tone, and Lily blushed a deep, unbecoming blush. ”

“ He looked down at her thoughtfully. “No man can ever tell,” he said; “not even the extremely foolish man who prides himself on his knowledge of the feminine heart, how far good looks influence—or don't influence—a woman when she is considering a member of my sex!” ”