AS the following day was Sunday the professor did not play. Instead he went to early mass accompanied by Margot, to whom he had taken a fancy, and in the afternoon the two went for a walk together in the direction of Menton. They asked Hugh to accompany them but he refused.
To tell the truth he had other fish to fry. Since his success, he had blossomed out in many ways. Some time before he had been to a good tailor and had several suits made. He had developed a fondness for the American Bar of the Café de Paris, and had become increasingly intimate with Mrs. Belmire.
At first he had merely admired her immensely; he was flattered by her interest in him and had found a kind of heady pleasure, like champagne, in her society. In the end he had become really fascinated. Then one day something happened that acted on him like a spur. He was walking along the road to Beaulieu when a big carmine car swung round a bend. He recognized Vulning at the wheel. He thought the lady with him seemed familiar, but it was not until she looked back laughingly and waved her hand that he saw it was Mrs. Belmire.
If it had been any other man he would not have minded. He knew she went about with Fetterstein and one or two others. But Vulning!... He disliked Vulning. He realized with a shock that he was jealously infatuated with the lady.
On this particular Sunday afternoon he had arranged to motor with her to Brodighera. He was happy in the thought that he would have her all to himself for four radiant hours.
They had not been long on the road when she said sweetly:
“You poor boy! I believe we nearly ran you down the other day. You looked ever so startled. Paul always drives so recklessly. He gives me all kinds of thrills.”
“Why do you go out with him then?” Hugh snapped.
She looked at him curiously. There was a gleam of amused satisfaction in her eye.
“Why shouldn’t I? I love thrills. Besides he’s an old friend. Good gracious! I don’t believe you like him.”
“Why should I?”
“Oh, he’s not a bad sort. A bit blasé and all that sort of thing. But ... well, you don’t know him.”
“We have met.”
“Have you really? I asked him after we had passed if he knew you, and he said he didn’t. He meets so many I suppose he forgot. He’s much sought after.”
Hugh grew more savage. Again he snapped. “I don’t believe he’s the man a woman should be seen with often if she values her reputation.”
“Her reputation!”
Hugh thought she was going to be angry. She stared at him a moment, then suddenly said: “Oh you funny boy! You nice boy! I like you so much for that. But ... I do believe you’re jealous of Paul Vulning.”
“Why should I be?”
“Because he’s so like you. You’ve got the same regular features, the same fair hair. You’re both tall and rather slight. But you needn’t resent all that. Paul is a rather soiled man of the world; you are a nice clean boy who might be fresh from Oxford.”
She looked at him thoughtfully.
“I’d like to keep you as you are, but it might be better for yourself if you were a little more sophisticated. I have half a mind to take you in hand, to educate you in the ways of the world. May I?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“No, I didn’t think you would. You are a little—may I say it?—naïve sometimes.... I say, don’t you admire my new blouse? I just got it this morning. The embroidery’s so pretty, I think.”
Something in the design struck Hugh as familiar. Yes, it was the work he had seen Margot sitting up so late to finish.
“You look so serious. Don’t you like it?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.”
“I think so too. By the way, why don’t you begin to gamble again? You play so well and you are so lucky. You must join the Club. You might make lots of money. Talking about horrid money reminds me ... mine hasn’t arrived and I’m rather low again. You may lend me another mille if you like.”
On the way back they overtook an old man and a girl. It was Margot and the professor. Margot’s arms were full of flowers. Hugh waved to them, and the professor waved back. Margot only stared. Hugh felt uncomfortable. He was sorry he had encountered them.
When he reached home the room was bright with blossoms. Margot was very quiet. She did not refer to their meeting and neither did he. But for some reason for which he could not account, he did not care to meet her eyes.
On his way to the Casino, the next day, he missed the usual crowd at the edge of the “Cheese,” and hunting up Mr. Tope inquired after Mrs. Fitzoswald.
“Haven’t you heard? The Casino capitulated. They had the Major released and paid the fares of the whole family to England. They all went off this morning.”
“And June Emslie?”
“I believe she got a job as a nurse girl or something with a family in Menton.”
“Poor girl!”
“I say, let me tell you once more, there’s the very wife for a lad like you. Why don’t you marry her? Just as sweet as a rose, and badly up against it.”
Hugh laughed and was glad of the diversion caused by the entrance of the Calderbrooks.
“Hullo! They’ve come back. I’ve missed them for some time,” he exclaimed.
“They were lying low. No money! Now they’ve got out some more and are starting in again. I’m told they’ve sold or mortgaged their property in England and taken an apartment here. In a few years’ time they will be just like all the other derelicts, haunting the Casino with no money to play, seedy, down at heel, sodden. You know the sort. Look around; you’ll see enough of ’em.”
Mrs. Calderbrook with a resolute look, was stalking in front; the girl Alicia, tall and slender, followed; the father with his wistful blue eye and drooping grey moustache trailed after them.
Hugh had heard that Alicia had been engaged to a young ex-aviator who had bought a ranch in Alberta. She had expected to have joined him as soon as possible, but Monte Carlo had thrown its spell over her. The thought of a lonely ranch on the prairie became unbearable and she broke off the engagement. She would probably never have another chance to marry.
To Hugh’s surprise he did not find MacTaggart in his usual place under the Three Graces, but instead, in his seat was Mr. Gimp.
“Yep,” said Mr. Gimp, sourly, “I’m old Mac’s deputy. Hate like hell to do this but he’s sick. He was getting out of bed, wanted to crawl down anyway, hated to lose his records. I made him go back and told him I’d take his place. It’s all damned rot, you know. I might as well put down any old numbers and give them to him. It would be the same in the end. Howsoever, I’m conscientious.”
“Is he very sick?”
“Nerves mostly. The success of your old friend, the professor, gave him a nasty jar. Kind o’ destroyed his confidence in his own system. Say, you want to tell the old boy to be careful. He was in this morning early, played five shots, and got the bulls-eye twice. Carried off over a hundred thousand francs.”
“Why should he be careful?”
“Because the Casino folks ain’t goin’ to stand that sort o’ thing indefinitely. They’re gettin’ scared; and believe me, when they get scared they’ll get desperate. It stands to reason, they ain’t goin’ to let themselves be ruined if they can help it. The old fellow seems to have some way of spotting a winner, or getting so close to it he breaks even. It’s plain now it ain’t all accident. Well, if he can make fifty thousand a day he can just as well make two hundred thousand ... and then let him look out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why, if he went on, they’d just have to close their doors. Not only the Casino would be ruined but the Principality. D’ye think they’re goin’ to stand for that?”
“They could expel him.”
“What good would that do? He could put some one else on. No, the only way would be to suppress both him and his system; and believe me, they won’t stick at half measures to do it. I don’t say as they’ll stoop to crime; but there’s men in their pay as ain’t so scrupulous. There’s the existence of the whole community at stake. Accidents can happen. What’s a man’s life compared with the ruin of twenty thousand people? Believe me, the professor’s playin’ a dangerous game.”
Hugh left Mr. Gimp sitting on one of the side benches still sourly taking down the hated numbers. He mooned round the rooms, thinking more of Mrs. Belmire than of the play. She had called him naïve; that had hurt his vanity. Was he naïve?
Mrs. Belmire had urged him to go on gambling, but he had baulked. Of course, she thought he had plenty of money, and that his winnings at roulette meant little to him. On the contrary they meant so much to him that he was determined to hold on to them at all costs. Of his fifty-five thousand five had already melted away. He had loaned her two and had spent another two on clothes. Perhaps it was the lesson that poverty had taught him in his youth, perhaps it was due to his Scottish ancestry, but he had a curious streak of prudence in him. He had deposited fifty thousand francs in the bank and was determined not to touch it.
Since his last spectacular performance at the tables, a reaction had set in. He found himself almost in the same state of indifference that he had been before he had begun to play. His sudden passion for gambling seemed to have spent itself, and he wondered how he could ever have been so obsessed.
Fifty thousand francs! Yes, he had been miraculously lucky. It seemed like providence. He would buy a car and a cottage, and spend his spare time in painting. As for Mrs. Belmire, he would tell her just how matters stood. But not just yet. Perhaps he would allow her to educate him a little first. No more roulette though; not even for tobacco money. No opportunities, however good, would tempt him. Confound Mrs. Belmire! She had said that she was dining that evening with Paul Vulning. She had made a point of telling him about it, he believed.
He spent three days painting at Cap Ferrat. He started early each morning and returned late, drunk with fresh air and sunshine. Then on the fourth day he rested and found his way in due course to the Casino. Mr. Gimp was still replacing MacTaggart.
“I expect Mac will be on deck again to-morrow,” Mr. Gimp said in response to his inquiry. “He can’t afford to lie off much longer. You know he’s working on a mere two or three hundred francs of capital. He lives on fifteen francs a day. If he don’t make ’em, he goes hungry. I know for a fact, lots of nights, he makes a supper of dry bread. That’s what’s killing him,—the worry of making his day. If he could afford to play with higher stakes, say louis instead of five franc pieces, it would be different. He’s got all kinds of faith in his system; sure there’s a fortune in it.”
“I had no idea he was so short.”
“Oh, there’s lots like that,—a good front and behind it starvation.... Just look at that Dago Castelli,—there’s a dashing, sporty player if you like.”
The handsome Italian was playing a brilliant paroli game. He played between three tables, putting a louis on each of the simple chances. If they were swept away he replaced them; if they won he left them on with the louis of gain. He continued to leave on stake and gains for six wins, then he took them up. This did not occur very often; but when it did it netted him thirty-two louis. The game was an unusual one, lively, easy to play, and interesting. Castelli always played this same game, and frequently with great success. That day, however, runs of six were rare and his louis were being swept away like leaves before the wind.
Hugh persisted in his decision not to play. He saw chance after chance to win, but let them go by. He was finished. He turned from the game and watched the players. The woman in grey came and went, always throwing a louis on number one. He saw her play several times at three different tables but without success. After looking on awhile, she went slowly away. The latest rumour he had heard concerning her was that she was a celebrated actress who had recently been acquitted of a case of crime passionel.
As he was wondering who she really was, a curious conversation attracted his attention. A big, ruddy Englishman was talking to a small shabby individual with a blotched face and gold-rimmed spectacles. The little man was saying:
“In six weeks from to-day you will pay me fifteen thousand francs. To-day I give you thirteen thousand, five hundred. That is understood, is it not?”
“Yes, that is understood.”
“But what about exchange? If the franc goes down in value, you will have gained. In that case you will pay me the difference. Is that understood?”
“Yes, that is understood.”
The little man took from his note-book a prepared slip of paper and the Englishman signed it with a fountain pen. The little man counted out thirteen thousand five hundred francs in notes and his companion took them, and threw a thousand on the first table. He lost, and without trying to regain them went off to the private rooms.
Hugh decided to go home. As he was crossing the “Hall of Light,” he saw Castelli sauntering in front of him. What a handsome chap that Italian was. What a favourite he must be with women. He was speaking to one now.... No, he had turned and was in conversation with the chief inspector of the Rooms. After a moment they disappeared together through one of the glass doors that works with a hidden catch.
On all sides Hugh heard wonderful accounts of the professor. For three days the old man had won seventy thousand francs a day. Half the profits of the Casino were going into his pocket. It was said the administration was becoming desperate.
Mr. Jarvis Tope had a source of secret information. His landlord was a retired croupier and the two were excellent friends. In this way he came to know many matters not revealed to the public, and he was very discreet about disseminating his information.
“By the way,” he said to Hugh, “you’ve heard that a gang are passing counterfeit louis in Casino money?”
“Yes.”
“Well, they’ve got one of them at least. In his room in Nice they found a suit-case full of it. You’ve probably seen the chap.”
“Who.”
“His name is Castelli....”
“No!”
“Yes. They got him two days ago, but they have been watching him for weeks. Some very sharp person on the Casino detective staff noticed that he seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of louis. That put them on the track. They’ve expelled him from the Principality. Well, that’s one worry off their shoulders. Their other one is your old friend, the professor. There they’ve got a tough nut to crack, I fear.”
“Do you think they’ll crack it?”
“Think! I know. A word in your ear. You tell the old chap to get out. Get him away in a car, far and fast. They’ve simply got to get that system, to get him. You understand. If they wish to save themselves from ruin, neither he nor his system must continue to exist. They’re only waiting now to make sure he’s got them. They can’t buy him off. They can’t let him escape. I say, I wouldn’t be in that old man’s shoes for all the money he’s made. Sounds melodramatic, I know. You think I exaggerate. You don’t know this place. Get him away, I say. Lose no time. Don’t laugh. I know.”
Hugh was so disturbed that he knocked that night on the old man’s door.
“Your neighbour.”
There was a turning of locks and the professor appeared. He had been working out his play for the next day.
“Come in. Do you know I was just coming to see you. I want to enter into an arrangement with you.”
“Yes.”
“I want protection. Twice I believe my life to have been attempted. Twice I have nearly been run down by a car. The first time I thought it was accidental, but I noticed it was the same car....”
“You must be mistaken.”
“I hope so. In any case I want you to accompany me to the Casino and back, and to stay with me when I play. I’ll pay you anything you like. A thousand francs a day if you agree.”
“I don’t want pay. I’ll be glad to help you.”
“Ah, I knew I could count on you. But look here, young man, I warn you it’s dangerous.”
“All right. But for your own sake, hadn’t you better try to compromise with them?”
“Never. They’ve already approached me. They said they didn’t believe in my system, but were willing to buy it. They offered me ten million francs in Casino stock. I told them, if they offered me a hundred million, I would refuse. They advised me to reconsider my decision. They were very courteous, said they were acting in the public interest and so on. Oh, they talked smoothly enough, but I could see the menace behind.... Look here!”
The professor went to the safe, twirled the combination, opened the heavy door and took out a leather bound folio.
“Here it is, the condensed result of all my labours, the explanation of my system. It is all in cypher. I want you to learn the six different cyphers I use.”
“Why?”
“Because, if anything should happen to me, I want you to avenge me. All you have to do is to publish this to the world. Their ruin will be complete. Hush!” The Professor went quickly to the door and threw it open. No one was there.
“I’m getting so nervous. It seems to me I’m watched all the time. You’ll promise, won’t you? You’ll be my protector, my assistant, my partner? You hesitate. Are you afraid?”
“Afraid! no.”
“All right. Will you?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Your hand on it. To-morrow we’ll begin.”
END OF BOOK THREE