At dusk I entered the
Salle des Estrangers of the Casino and settling myself comfortably in
the appointed corner, awaited developments. It was a trying wait. I
sat there from seven to ten-thirty, smoking incessantly. I was just
finishing my last cigarette and I had about come to the end of my
resources in entertaining myself. One has ample time to conjecture
all sorts of possible mishaps, and mishaps are deucedly uncomfortable
in this sort of work.
Not to create curiosity or suspicion, by my long occupation of this
particular corner, I had started a tremendous flirtation with a rather
plain, rather rotund lady of the English Cook's Tour type. Her return
glances and smiles attracted the amused attention of most of the
passers-by, especially the attendant of that part of the Salle. This
was rather good, for if one does not gamble or flirt in the Casino he
is regarded by the commissaires as a Chevalier d'Industrie, in other
words "confidence man."
Just then I saw the Countess' maid making a signal to me from the
entrance door and without as much as by your leave I hurried after
her. In about ten strides, I overtook the girl.
"Have you got anything for me?"
"No, sir," she replied. "But her Ladyship wishes to meet you. You
are pleased to make a rendezvous."
This was clever and suited me; knowing that she must have procured
something of importance, I selected a little caf?©, the Boulanger,
close to the station, and after giving the girl a louis, I jumped into
a carriage and drove there.
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