"_En plein_, I tell you, _en
plein_!"
"But no, excuse me, Madame, you had money on black and the second dozen,
on pair, and on the _carre_ of twenty-four; but nothing on the number
itself. Your maximum was on twenty-six," the croupier explained firmly.
"I tell you it was on twenty-four!" shrieked the actress.
"Madame is mistaken. You staked in so many different places, it is
impossible for you to remember."
"It is still more impossible for you. Do you intend to pay me?"
"But certainly, for everything you won."
"And the maximum on twenty-four?"
"Not that, Madame."
"I will complain to the management!"
"As Madame pleases."
"I will stop the game till I am paid!"
One of the two inspectors left his high chair, came to the enraged lady
and attempted to soothe her. She looked magnificent in her passion, ten
years having fallen like a mask from the marble face.
The croupier, who had paid her for several bets won, attempted to go on
with his duties. People, some delighting in the "row," others annoyed at
the delay, placed their stakes, but she, a lioness at bay, stared
furiously without putting a piece on the table. As the disc turned,
however, she pounced. She threw a louis into the wheel. But the
croupier, without changing countenance, took out the coin, pushed it
back to her, and began spinning again. In went another louis and again
the croupier stopped the wheel. Voices rose in complaint: Russian
voices, German voices, English voices.
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