the gambler-第16部分

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not　even　know　how　to　carry　his　breeding。　Lift　me　up。　Potapitch；
see　to　it　that　you　always　have　TWO　bearers　ready。　Go　and　arrange
for　their　hire。　But　we　shall　not　require　more　than　two；　for　I
shall　need　only　to　be　carried　upstairs。　On　the　level　or　in　the
street　I　can　be　WHEELED　along。　Go　and　tell　them　that；　and　pay
them　in　advance；　so　that　they　may　show　me　some　respect。　You　too；
Potapitch；　are　always　to　come　with　me；　and　YOU；　Alexis
Ivanovitch；　are　to　point　out　to　me　this　Baron　as　we　go　along；　in
order　that　I　may　get　a　squint　at　the　precious　'Von。'　And　where
is　that　roulette　played？〃

I　explained　to　her　that　the　game　was　carried　on　in　the　salons　of
the　Casino；　whereupon　there　ensued　a　string　of　questions　as　to
whether　there　were　many　such　salons；　whether　many　people　played
in　them；　whether　those　people　played　a　whole　day　at　a　time；　and
whether　the　game　was　managed　according　to　fixed　rules。　At　length；
I　thought　it　best　to　say　that　the　most　advisable　course　would　be
for　her　to　go　and　see　it　for　herself；　since　a　mere　description
of　it　would　be　a　difficult　matter。

〃Then　take　me　straight　there；〃　she　said；　〃and　do　you　walk　on
in　front　of　me；　Alexis　Ivanovitch。〃

〃What；　mother？　Before　you　have　so　much　as　rested　from　your
journey？〃　the　General　inquired　with　some　solicitude。　Also；　for
some　reason　which　I　could　not　divine；　he　seemed　to　be　growing
nervous；　and；　indeed；　the　whole　party　was　evincing　signs　of
confusion；　and　exchanging　glances　with　one　another。　Probably
they　were　thinking　that　it　would　be　a　ticklisheven　an
embarrassingbusiness　to　accompany　the　Grandmother　to　the
Casino；　where；　very　likely；　she　would　perpetrate　further
eccentricities；　and　in　public　too！　Yet　on　their　own　initiative
they　had　offered　to　escort　her！

〃Why　should　I　rest？〃　she　retorted。　〃I　am　not　tired；　for　I
have　been　sitting　still　these　past　five　days。　Let　us　see　what
your　medicinal　springs　and　waters　are　like；　and　where　they　are
situated。　What；　too；　about　that；　thatwhat　did　you　call　it；
Prascovia？oh；　about　that　mountain　top？〃

〃Yes；　we　are　going　to　see　it；　Grandmamma。〃

〃Very　well。　Is　there　anything　else　for　me　to　see　here？〃

〃Yes！　Quite　a　number　of　things；〃　Polina　forced　herself　to　say。

〃Martha；　YOU　must　come　with　me　as　well；〃　went　on　the　old　lady
to　her　maid。

〃No；　no；　mother！〃　ejaculated　the　General。　〃Really　she　cannot
come。　They　would　not　admit　even　Potapitch　to　the　Casino。〃

〃Rubbish！　Because　she　is　my　servant；　is　that　a　reason　for
turning　her　out？　Why；　she　is　only　a　human　being　like　the　rest　of
us；　and　as　she　has　been　travelling　for　a　week　she　might　like　to
look　about　her。　With　whom　else　could　she　go　out　but　myself　？　She
would　never　dare　to　show　her　nose　in　the　street　alone。〃

〃But；　mother〃

〃Are　you　ashamed　to　be　seen　with　me？　Stop　at　home；　then；　and
you　will　be　asked　no　questions。　A　pretty　General　YOU　are；　to　be
sure！　I　am　a　general's　widow　myself。　But；　after　all；　why　should
I　drag　the　whole　party　with　me？　I　will　go　and　see　the　sights
with　only　Alexis　Ivanovitch　as　my　escort。〃

De　Griers　strongly　insisted　that　EVERY　ONE　ought　to　accompany
her。　Indeed；　he　launched　out　into　a　perfect　shower　of　charming
phrases　concerning　the　pleasure　of　acting　as　her　cicerone；　and
so　forth。　Every　one　was　touched　with　his　words。

〃Mais　elle　est　tombee　en　enfance；〃　he　added　aside　to　the
General。　〃　Seule；　elle　fera　des　betises。〃　More　than　this　I　could
not　overhear；　but　he　seemed　to　have　got　some　plan　in　his　mind；
or　even　to　be　feeling　a　slight　return　of　his　hopes。

The　distance　to　the　Casino　was　about　half　a　verst；　and　our　route
led　us　through　the　Chestnut　Avenue　until　we　reached　the　square
directly　fronting　the　building。　The　General；　I　could　see；　was　a
trifle　reassured　by　the　fact　that；　though　our　progress　was
distinctly　eccentric　in　its　nature；　it　was；　at　least；　correct
and　orderly。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　spectacle　of　a　person　who
is　unable　to　walk　is　not　anything　to　excite　surprise　at　a　spa。
Yet　it　was　clear　that　the　General　had　a　great　fear　of　the　Casino
itself：　for　why　should　a　person　who　had　lost　the　use　of　her
limbsmore　especially　an　old　womanbe　going　to　rooms　which　were
set　apart　only　for　roulette？　On　either　side　of　the　wheeled　chair
walked　Polina　and　Mlle。　Blanchethe　latter　smiling；　modestly
jesting；　and；　in　short；　making　herself　so　agreeable　to　the
Grandmother　that　in　the　end　the　old　lady　relented　towards　her。
On　the　other　side　of　the　chair　Polina　had　to　answer　an　endless
flow　of　petty　questionssuch　as　〃Who　was　it　passed　just　now？〃
〃Who　is　that　coming　along？〃　〃Is　the　town　a　large　one？〃　〃Are
the　public　gardens　extensive？〃　〃What　sort　of　trees　are　those？〃　
〃What　is　the　name　of　those　hills？〃　〃Do　I　see　eagles　flying
yonder？〃　〃What　is　that　absurd…looking　building？〃　and　so
forth。　Meanwhile　Astley　whispered　to　me；　as　he　walked　by　my
side；　that　he　looked　for　much　to　happen　that　morning。　Behind　the
old　lady's　chair　marched　Potapitch　and　MarthaPotapitch　in　his
frockcoat　and　white　waistcoat；　with　a　cloak　over　all；　and　the
forty…year…old　and　rosy；　but　slightly　grey…headed；　Martha　in　a
mobcap；　cotton　dress；　and　squeaking　shoes。　Frequently　the　old
lady　would　twist　herself　round　to　converse　with　these　servants。
As　for　De　Griers；　he　spoke　as　though　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to
do　something　（though　it　is　also　possible　that　he　spoke　in　this
manner　merely　in　order　to　hearten　the　General；　with　whom　he
appeared　to　have　held　a　conference）。　But；　alas；　the　Grandmother
had　uttered　the　fatal　words；　〃I　am　not　going　to　give　you　any　of
my　money；〃　and　though　De　Griers　might　regard　these　words
lightly；　the　General　knew　his　mother　better。　Also；　I　noticed
that　De　Griers　and　Mlle。　Blanche　were　still　exchanging　looks；
while　of　the　Prince　and　the　German　savant　I　lost　sight　at　the
end　of　the　Avenue；　where　they　had　turned　back　and　left　us。

Into　the　Casino　we　marched　in　triumph。　At　once；　both　in　the
person　of　the　commissionaire　and　in　the　persons　of　the　footmen；
there　sprang　to　life　the　same　reverence　as　had　arisen　in　the
lacqueys　of　the　hotel。　Yet　it　was　not　without　some　curiosity
that　they　eyed　us。

Without　loss　of　time；　the　Grandmother　gave　orders　that　she　should
be　wheeled　through　every　room　in　the　establishment；　of　which
apartments　she　praised　a　few；　while　to　others　she　remained
indifferent。　Concerning　everything；　however；　she　asked
questions。　Finally　we　reached　the　gaming…salons；　where　a　lacquey
who　was；　acting　as　guard　over　the　doors；　flung　them　open　as
though　he　were　a　man　possessed。

The　Grandmother's　entry　into　the　roulette…salon　produced　a
profound　impression　upon　the　public。　Around　the　tables；　and　at
the　further　end　of　the　room　where　the　trente…et…quarante　table
was　set　out；　there　may　have　been　gathered　from　150　to　200
gamblers；　ranged　in　several　rows。　Those　who　had　succeeded　in
pushing　their　way　to　the　tables　were　standing　with　their　feet
firmly　planted；　in　order　to　avoid　having　to　give　up　their　places
until　they　should　have　finished　their　game　（since　merely　to
stand　looking　onthus　occupying　a　gambler's　place　for
nothingwas　not　permitted）。　True；　chairs　were　provided　around
the　tables；　but　few　players　made　use　of　themmore　especially　if
there　was　a　large　attendance　of　the　general　public；　since　to
stand　allowed　of　a　closer　approach；　and；　therefore；　of　greater
facilities　for　calculation　and　staking。　Behind　the　foremost　row
were　herded　a　second　and　a　third　row　of　people　awaiting　their
turn；　but　sometimes　their　impatience　led　these　people　to
stretch　a　hand　through　the　first　row；　in　order　to　deposit　their
stakes。　Even　third…row　individuals　would　dart　forward　to　stake；
whence　seldom　did　more　than　five　or　ten　minutes　pass　without　a
scene　over　disputed　money　arising　at　one　or　another　end　of　the
table。　On　the　other　hand；　the　police　of　the　Casino　were　an　able
body　of　men；　and　though　to　escape　the　crush　was　an
impossibility；　however　much　one　might　wish　it；　the　eight
croupiers　apportioned　to　each　table　kept　an　eye　upon　the　stakes；
performed　the　necessary　reckoning；　and　decided　disputes　as　they
arose。　

In　the　last　resort　they　always　called　in　the　Casino
police；　and　the　disputes　would　immediately　come　to　an　end。
Policemen　were　stationed　about　the　Casino　in　ordinary　costume；
and　mingled　with　the　spectators　so　as　to　make　it　impossible　to
recognise　them。　In　particular　they　kept　a　lookout　for
pickpockets　and　swindlers；　who　simply　swanned　in　the　roulette
salons；　and　reaped　a　rich　harvest。　Indeed；　in　every　direction
money　was　being　filched　from　pockets　or　pursesthough；　of
course；　if　the　attempt　miscarried；　a　great　uproar　ensued。　One
had　only　to　approach　a　roulette　table；　begin　to　play；　and
then　openly　grab　some　one　else's　winnings；　for　a　din　to　be
raised；　and　the　thief　to　start　vociferating　that　the　stake　was
HIS；　and；　if　the　coup　had　been　carried　out　with　sufficient　skill；
and　the　witnesses　wavered　at　all　in　their　testimony；　the　thief
would　as　likely　as　not　succeed　in　getting　away　with　the　money；
provided　that　the　sum　was　not　a　large　onenot　large　enough　to
have　attracted　the　attention　of　the　croupiers　or　some
fellow…player。　Moreover；　if　it　were　a　stake　of　insignificant
size；　its　true　owner　would　sometimes　decline　to　continue　the
dispute；　rather　than　become　involved　in　a　scandal。　Conversely；
if　the　thief　was　detected；　he　was　ignominiously　expelled　the
building。

Upon　all　this　the　Grandmother　gazed　with　open…eyed　curiosity；
and；　on　some　thieves　happening　to　be　turned　out　of　the　place；
she　was　delighted。　Trente…et…quarante　interested　her　but　little；
she　preferred　roulette；　with　its　ever…revolving　wheel。　At　length
she　expressed　a　wish　to　view　the　game　closer；　whereupon　in　some
mysterious　manner；　the　lacqueys　and　other　officious　agents
（especially　one　or　two　ruined　Poles　of　the　kind　who　keep
offering　their　services　to　successful　gamblers　and　foreigners　in
general）　at　once　found　and　cleared　a　space　for　the　old　lady
among　the　crush；　at　the　very　centre　of　one　of　the　tables；　and
next　to　the　chief　croupier；　after　which　they　wheeled　her　chair
thither。　Upon　this　a　number　of　visitors　who　were　not　playing；
but　only　looking　on　（particularly　some　Englishmen　with　their
families）；　pressed　closer　forward　towards　the　table；　in　order
to　watch　the　old　lady　fr