The words rang out, “Faites vos jeux, Messieurs, Mesdames.” Then, “Le jeu est fait!  Rien ne va plus!”

The luck suddenly turned against Anna.  She looked up, and found Sylvia’s eyes fixed on her.  She made a slight motion, as if she wished her friend to go away.

Sylvia slipped back, and walked quietly round the table.  Then she stood behind Anna, and once more the luck came back, and the lady banker’s pile of notes and gold grew higher and higher....

“This is the first time a woman has held the Bank this month,” Sylvia heard someone say.

And then there came an answer, “Yes, and it is by far the best Bank we have had this month—­in fact, it’s the best play we’ve had this season!”

At last Anna pushed away her chair and got up.

One of the young men who had lost a good deal of money came up to her and said smilingly.

“I hope, Madame, you are not going away.  I propose now to take the Bank; surely, you will allow me to have my revenge?”

Anna Wolsky laughed.

“Certainly!” she answered.  “I propose to go on playing for some time longer.”

He took the Banker’s seat, and the crowd dispersed to the other tables.  L’Ami Fritz slipped away downstairs, but his wife stayed on in the Club by Sylvia’s side.

Soon the table was as much surrounded as before, for Anna was again winning.  She had won as banker, now she won as simple player, and all those about her began to “follow her luck” with excellent results to themselves.

The scene reminded Sylvia of that first evening at the Casino.  It was only three weeks ago, and yet how full, how crowded the time had been!

Somehow to-night she did not feel inclined to play.  To her surprise and amusement she saw Madame Wachner actually risk a twenty-franc piece.  A moment later the stake was doubled, and soon the good lady had won nine gold pieces.  Her face flushed with joy like a happy child’s.

“Oh, why is not Fritz here?” she exclaimed.  “How sorry I am I sent him downstairs!  But, never mind, his old wife is making some money for once!”

At last the Banker rose from the table.  He was pretty well cleared out.  Smiling and bowing to Anna, he said, “Well, Madame, I congratulate you!  You must have a very powerful mascot.”

Anna shook her head gaily.

“It is pleasant to win from a millionaire,” she whispered to Sylvia, “for one knows it does not hurt him!  That young man has a share in the profit on every piece of sugar sold in France, and you know how fond the French are of sweet things!”

She turned from the table, followed by Sylvia and Madame Wachner.

“What will you do with all your money?” asked Madame Wachner anxiously.

“I told one of the ushers to have it all turned into notes for me,” she answered indifferently.  “As to what I shall do with it!—­well, I suppose I shall have to go into Paris and bank some of it in a day or two.  I shan’t play to-morrow.  I shall take a rest—­I deserve a rest!” She looked extraordinarily excited and happy.