Towards democracy

Monte Carlo 437

And still the sun nears its setting.

And still, within, as all day since noon, the feverish crowd i@its or stands round the tables;

Nigh twenty tables—well nigh a thousand people, for the smost part bent on businéss—all but a few by the glitter dazed Gof the eyes of the great god Chance.

Hats doffed, a hush reigns ; tiptoe they move about that dhuge saloon, as in some Temple.

And now the great shaded lamps are lighted, hanging close over the green cloth.

See! how beautiful is the face of this little old lady, with tiny iashrunken body and trembling mittened hands—the deep eyes, fand dark shades in the eye sockets, and pitiful tender mouth !

Each round she carefully places a gold piece on some compartment, and watches for the result—nor seems to doubt dher occupation for a moment.

Next her a young girl of eighteen or nineteen, aristoderatic-featured, sits intent, and hides her hot eyes and straight somewhat pinched mouth under the brim of a broad white hat.

Close by again, see, a woman in black, of clear frank asimple-minded type, almost a rustic, standing behind a chair sand trying one or two throws;

And here a man, faultlessly attired and with absurdly s unconcerned manner, sitting close by a croupier, and every a now and then changing a thousand-franc note for gold—which dhe dots about the board in the most casual way, and appars ently with complete want of success;

And there, an old man with bald hot-veined forehead and