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the army； if a comrade dies； and has a good pair of boots； and you
have a bad pair； you change； that's all。〃
〃Yes； but you don't take them while he is living。〃
〃Oh； what meanness！〃 said Philippe； shrugging his shoulders。 〃Well； so
you haven't got any money？〃
〃No；〃 said Joseph； who was determined not to show his hiding…place。
〃In a few days we shall be rich；〃 said Madame Descoings。
〃Yes； you； you think your trey is going to turn up on the 25th at the
Paris drawing。 You must have put in a fine stake if you think you can
make us all rich。〃
〃A paid…up trey of two hundred francs will give three millions；
without counting the couplets and the singles。〃
〃At fifteen thousand times the stakeyes； you are right； it is just
two hundred you must pay up！〃 cried Philippe。
Madame Descoings bit her lips； she knew she had spoken imprudently。 In
fact； Philippe was asking himself as he went downstairs：
〃That old witch！ where does she keep her money？ It is as good as lost；
I can make a better use of it。 With four pools at fifty francs each； I
could win two hundred thousand francs； and that's much surer than the
turning up of a trey。〃
He tried to think where the old woman was likely to have hid the
money。 On the days preceding festivals； Agathe went to church and
stayed there a long time； no doubt she confessed and prepared for the
communion。 It was now the day before Christmas； Madame Descoings would
certainly go out to buy some dainties for the 〃reveillon；〃 the
midnight meal； and she might also take occasion to pay up her stake。
The lottery was drawn every five days in different localities； at
Bordeaux； Lyons； Lille； Strasburg； and Paris。 The Paris lottery was
drawn on the twenty…fifth of each month； and the lists closed on the
twenty…fourth； at midnight。 Philippe studied all these points and set
himself to watch。 He came home at midday； the Descoings had gone out；
and had taken the key of the appartement。 But that was no difficulty。
Philippe pretended to have forgotten something； and asked the
concierge to go herself and get a locksmith； who lived close by； and
who came at once and opened the door。 The villain's first thought was
the bed； he uncovered it； passed his hands over the mattress before he
examined the bedstead； and at the lower end felt the pieces wrapped up
in paper。 He at once ripped the ticking； picked out twenty napoleons；
and then； without taking time to sew up the mattress； re…made the bed
neatly enough； so that Madame Descoings could suspect nothing。
The gambler stole off with a light foot； resolving to play at three
different times； three hours apart； and each time for only ten
minutes。 Thorough…going players； ever since 1786； the time at which
public gaming…houses were established；the true players whom the
government dreaded； and who ate up； to use a gambling term； the money
of the bank；never played in any other way。 But before attaining this
measure of experience they lost fortunes。 The whole science of
gambling…houses and their gains rests upon three things： the
impassibility of the bank； the even results called 〃drawn games；〃 when
half the money goes to the bank； and the notorious bad faith
authorized by the government； in refusing to hold or pay the player's
stakes except optionally。 In a word； the gambling…house； which refuses
the game of a rich and cool player； devours the fortune of the foolish
and obstinate one； who is carried away by the rapid movement of the
machinery of the game。 The croupiers at 〃trente et quarante〃 move
nearly as fast as the ball。
Philippe had ended by acquiring the sang…froid of a commanding
general； which enables him to keep his eye clear and his mind prompt
in the midst of tumult。 He had reached that statesmanship of gambling
which in Paris； let us say in passing； is the livelihood of thousands
who are strong enough to look every night into an abyss without
getting a vertigo。 With his four hundred francs； Philippe resolved to
make his fortune that day。 He put aside； in his boots； two hundred
francs； and kept the other two hundred in his pocket。 At three o'clock
he went to the gambling…house （which is now turned into the theatre of
the Palais…Royal）； where the bank accepted the largest sums。 He came
out half an hour later with seven thousand francs in his pocket。 Then
he went to see Florentine； paid the five hundred francs which he owed
to her； and proposed a supper at the Rocher de Cancale after the
theatre。 Returning to his game； along the rue de Sentier； he stopped
at Giroudeau's newspaper…office to notify him of the gala。 By six
o'clock Philippe had won twenty…five thousand francs； and stopped
playing at the end of ten minutes as he had promised himself to do。
That night； by ten o'clock； he had won seventy…five thousand francs。
After the supper； which was magnificent； Philippe； by that time drunk
and confident； went back to his play at midnight。 In defiance of the
rule he had imposed upon himself； he played for an hour and doubled
his fortune。 The bankers； from whom； by his system of playing； he had
extracted one hundred and fifty thousand francs； looked at him with
curiosity。
〃Will he go away now； or will he stay？〃 they said to each other by a
glance。 〃If he stays he is lost。〃
Philippe thought he had struck a vein of luck； and stayed。 Towards
three in the morning； the hundred and fifty thousand francs had gone
back to the bank。 The colonel； who had imbibed a considerable quantity
of grog while playing； left the place in a drunken state； which the
cold of the outer air only increased。 A waiter from the gambling…house
followed him； picked him up； and took him to one of those horrible
houses at the door of which； on a hanging lamp； are the words：
〃Lodgings for the night。〃 The waiter paid for the ruined gambler； who
was put to bed； where he remained till Christmas night。 The managers
of gambling…houses have some consideration for their customers；
especially for high players。 Philippe awoke about seven o'clock in the
evening； his mouth parched； his face swollen； and he himself in the
grip of a nervous fever。 The strength of his constitution enabled him
to get home on foot； where meanwhile he had； without willing it；
brought mourning； desolation； poverty； and death。
The evening before； when dinner was ready； Madame Descoings and Agathe
expected Philippe。 They waited dinner till seven o'clock。 Agathe
always went to bed at ten； but as； on this occasion； she wished to be
present at the midnight mass； she went to lie down as soon as dinner
was over。 Madame Descoings and Joseph remained alone by the fire in
the little salon； which served for all； and the old woman asked the
painter to add up the amount of her great stake； her monstrous stake；
on the famous trey； which she was to pay that evening at the Lottery
office。 She wished to put in for the doubles and singles as well； so
as to seize all chances。 After feasting on the poetry