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steadily against him； till he could breast her blows no
longer。 He rose from the table and came towards Somerset； and
they both moved on together into the entrance…hall。
Dare was at that moment the victim of an overpowering mania
for more money。 His presence in the South of Europe had its
origin； as may be guessed； in Captain De Stancy's journey in
the same direction； whom he had followed； and troubled with
persistent request for more funds； carefully keeping out of
sight of Paula and the rest。 His dream of involving Paula in
the De Stancy pedigree knew no abatement。 But Somerset had
lighted upon him at an instant when that idea； though not
displaced； was overwhelmed by a rage for play。 In hope of
being able to continue it by Somerset's aid he was prepared to
do almost anything to please the architect。
'You asked me；' said Dare； stroking his impassive brow； 'if I
had seen anything of the Powers。 I have seen them； and if I
can be of any use to you in giving information about them I
shall only be too glad。'
'What information can you give？'
'I can tell you where they are gone to。'
'Where？'
'To the Grand Hotel； Genoa。 They went on there this
afternoon。'
'Whom do you refer to by they？'
'Mrs。 Goodman； Mr。 Power； Miss Power； Miss De Stancy； and the
worthy captain。 He leaves them tomorrow： he comes back here
for a day on his way to England。'
Somerset was silent。 Dare continued： 'Now I have done you a
favour； will you do me one in return？'
Somerset looked towards the gaming…rooms； and said dubiously；
'Well？'
'Lend me two hundred francs。'
'Yes；' said Somerset； 'but on one condition： that I don't
give them to you till you are inside the hotel you are staying
at。'
'That can't be； it's at Nice。'
'Well I am going back to Nice； and I'll lend you the money the
instant we get there。'
'But I want it here； now； instantly！' cried Dare； and for the
first time there was a wiry unreasonableness in his voice that
fortified his companion more firmly than ever in his
determination to lend the young man no money whilst he
remained inside that building。
'You want it to throw it away。 I don't approve of it； so come
with me。'
'But；' said Dare； 'I arrived here with a hundred napoleons and
more； expressly to work out my theory of chances and
recurrences； which is sound； I have studied it hundreds of
times by the help of this。' He partially drew from his pocket
the little volume that we have before seen in his hands。 'If
I only persevere in my system； the certainty that I must win
is almost mathematical。 I have staked and lost two hundred
and thirty…three times。 Allowing out of that one chance in
every thirty…six； which is the average of zero being marked；
and two hundred and four times for the backers of the other
numbers； I have the mathematical expectation of six times at
least； which would nearly recoup me。 And shall I； then；
sacrifice that vast foundation of waste chances that I have
laid down； and paid for； merely for want of a little ready
money？'
'You might persevere for a twelvemonth； and still not get the
better of your reverses。 Time tells in favour of the bank。
Just imagine for the sake of argument that all the people who
have ever placed a stake upon a certain number to be one
person playing continuously。 Has that imaginary person won？
The existence of the bank is a sufficient answer。'
'But a particular player has the option of leaving off at any
point favourable to himself； which the bank has not； and
there's my opportunity。'
'Which from your mood you will be sure not to take advantage
of。'
'I shall go on playing；' said Dare doggedly。
'Not with my money。'
'Very well； we won't part as enemies；' replied Dare； with the
flawless politeness of a man whose speech has no longer any
kinship with his feelings。 'Shall we share a bottle of wine？
You will not？ Well； I hope your luck with your lady will be
more magnificent than mine has been here； butmind Captain De
Stancy！ he's a fearful wildfowl for you。'
'He's a harmless inoffensive soldier； as far as I know。 If he
is notlet him be what he may for me。'
'And do his worst to cut you out； I suppose？'
'Ayif you will。' Somerset； much against his judgment； was
being stimulated by these pricks into words of irritation。
'Captain De Stancy might； I think； be better employed than in
dangling at the heels of a lady who can well dispense with his
company。 And you might be better employed than in wasting
your wages here。'
'Wagesa fit word for my money。 May I ask you at what stage
in the appearance of a man whose way of existence is unknown；
his money ceases to be called wages and begins to be called
means？'
Somerset turned and left him without replying； Dare following
his receding figure with a look of ripe resentment； not less
likely to vent itself in mischief from the want of moral
ballast in him who emitted it。 He then fixed a nettled and
unsatisfied gaze upon the gaming…rooms； and in another minute
or two left the Casino also。
Dare and Somerset met no more that day。 The latter returned
to Nice by the evening train and went straight to the hotel。
He now thanked his fortune that he had not precipitately given
up his room there； for a telegram from Paula awaited him。 His
hand almost trembled as he opened it； to read the following
few short words； dated from the Grand Hotel； Genoa：
'Letter received。 Am glad to hear of your journey。 We are
not returning to Nice； but stay here a week。 I direct this at
a venture。'
This tantalizing messagethe first breaking of her recent
silencewas saucy； almost cruel； in its dry frigidity。 It
led him to give up his idea of following at once to Genoa。
That was what she obviously expected him to do； and it was
possible that his non…arrival might draw a letter or message
from her of a sweeter composition than this。 That would at
least be the effect of his tardiness if she cared in the least
for him； if she did not he could bear the worst。 The argument
was good enough as far as it went； but； like many more； failed
from the narrowness of its premises； the contingent
intervention of Dare being entirely undreamt of。 It was
altogether a fatal miscalculation； which cost him dear。
Passing by the telegraph…office in the Rue Pont…Neuf at an
early hour the next morning he saw Dare coming out from the
door。 It was Somerset's momentary impulse to thank Dare for
the information given as to Paula's whereabouts； information
which had now proved true。 But Dare did not seem to
appreciate his friendliness； and after a few words of studied
civility the young man moved on。
And well he might。 Five minutes before that time he had
thrown open a gulf of treachery between himself and the
architect which nothing in life could ever close。 Before
leaving the telegraph…office Dare had despatched the following
message to Paula direct； as a set…off against what he called
Somerset's ingratitude for valuable information； though it was
really the fruit of many passions； motives； and desires：
'G。 Somerset； Nice； to Miss Power； Grand Hotel； Genoa。
'Have lost all at Monte Carlo。 Have learnt