atmosphere of the casino still held for her the attraction of novelty. It
was all so gay, so full of light and movement, and of that peculiar charm
of the open air which makes an irresistible appeal to English people,
condemned as they are by the exigencies of climate to take their pleasures
betwixt four walls throughout the greater portion of the year.

"It interests me frightfully, watching people," observed Ann. "Quite a
lot of the people here are really enjoying the music--and quite a lot are
simply marking time till the tables are open and they can go and play
boule."

Tony nodded.

"The sheep and the goats," he replied. "Count me among the latter. But
boule's a rotten poor game," discontentedly. "Give me roulette--every time.
One has the chance to win something worth while at that."

"And a chance to lose equally as much," retorted Ann.

She flushed a little. This was the first occasion on which Tony had
referred to the subject of gambling since the day they had gone up to the
Dents de Loup together. She wondered if he had spoken deliberately,
intending to remind her of the fact that, since she had refused to marry
him, he was perfectly free to gamble if he chose. Yet he had spoken so
casually, apparently quite without _arriere pensee_ that it almost appeared
as though the memory of that day upon the mountain had been wiped out of
his mind. He seemed unconscious of any _gene_ in the situation. During Lady
Susan's brief illness he had been in and out of the villa exactly as usual,
bringing flowers, running errands, cheering them all up with his infectious
good humour--spontaneously willing to do anything and everything that might