In the Days of My Youth by Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards
page 75 of 620 (12%)
page 75 of 620 (12%)
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went to the grotto of the fortune-teller, but it was full of noisy
rustics; and thence to the lottery hall, where there were plenty of players, but not those of whom I was in search. "Wheel of fortune, Messieurs et Mesdames," said the young lady behind the counter. "Only fifty centimes each. All prizes, and no blanks--try your fortune, _monsieur le capitaine!_ Put it once, _monsieur le capitaine_; once for yourself, and once for madame. Only fifty centimes each, and the certainty of winning!" _Monsieur le capitaine_ was a great, rawboned corporal, with a pretty little maid-servant on his arm. The flattery was not very delicate; but it succeeded. He threw down a franc. The wheel flew round, the papers were drawn, and the corporal won a needle-case, and the maid-servant a cigar-holder. In the midst of the laugh to which this distribution gave rise, I walked away in the direction of the refreshment stalls. Here were parties supping substantially, dancers drinking orgeat and lemonade, and little knots of tradesmen and mechanics sipping beer ridiculously out of wine-glasses to an accompaniment of cakes and sweet-biscuits. Still I could see no trace of Mr. Frank Sullivan. At length I gave up the search in despair, and on my way back encountered Master Philippe leaning against a tree, and looking exceedingly helpless and unwell. "You ate too many eggs, Philippe," said his mother. "I told you so at the time." "It--it wasn't the eggs," faltered the wretched Philippe. "It was the Russian swing." |
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