A moment later four gold pieces were added to the four already there.

“You had better take up your winnings, or someone may claim them,” muttered Anna anxiously.

“Oh, but I don’t like to do that,” said Sylvia.

“Of course you must!”

She put out her hand and took up her four gold pieces, leaving those of the Count on the table.  Then suddenly she put back the eighty francs on the cloth, and smiled up at him; it was a gay little shame-faced smile.  “Please don’t be cross with me, kind friend,”—­that is what Sylvia’s smile seemed to say to Paul de Virieu—­“but this is so very exciting!”

He felt stirred to the heart.  How sweet, how confidingly simple she looked!  And—­and how very beautiful.  He at once loved and hated to see her there, his new little “amie Anglaise!”

“Are you going to leave the whole of it on this time?” whispered Anna.

“Yes, I think I will.  It’s rather fun.  After all, I’m only risking twenty francs!” whispered back Sylvia.

And once more she won.

“What a pity you didn’t start playing with a hundred francs!  Think of how rich you would be now,” said Anna, with the true gambler’s instinct.  “But it is clear, child, that you are going to do well this evening, and I shall follow your luck!  Take the money off now, however.”

Sylvia waited to see what the Count would do.  Their eyes asked and answered the same question.  He gave an imperceptible nod, and she took up her winnings—­eight gold pieces!

It was well that she had done so, for the next deal of the cards favoured the banker.

Then something very surprising happened to Sylvia.

Someone—­she thought it was Monsieur Wachner—­addressed the croupier whose duty it was to deal out the cards, and said imperiously, “A Madame la main!”

Hardly knowing what she was doing, Sylvia took up the cards which had been pushed towards her.  A murmur of satisfaction ran round the table, for there lay what even she had learnt by now was the winning number, a nine of hearts, and the second card was the king of clubs.

Again and again, she turned up winning numbers—­the eight and the ace, the five and the four, the six and the three—­every combination which brought luck to the table and confusion to the banker.

Eyes full of adoring admiration, aye and gratitude, were turned on the young Englishwoman.  Paul de Virieu alone did not look at her.  But he followed her play.

“Now put on a hundred francs,” said Anna, authoritatively.

Sylvia looked at her, rather surprised by the advice, but she obeyed it.  And still the Comte de Virieu followed her lead.

That made her feel dreadfully nervous and excited—­it would be so terrible to make him lose too!

Neither of them lost.  On the contrary, ten napoleons were added to the double pile of gold.

And then, after that, it seemed as if the whole table were following Sylvia’s game.