THE PROFESSOR DISCOURSES ON GAMBLING
"Le hasard n'est rien. Il n'est point de hasard. Nous avons nominè
l'effet que nous voyons d'une cause que nous ne voyons pas."
Voltaire, _Lettres de Memmius, III_.
Chance is nothing. There is no such thing as chance. What we call by
that name is the effect which we see of a cause which we do not see.
"C'est le profonde ignorance qui inspire le ton dogmatique."
La Bruyère, _Characteres_.
"Well, Monsieur Beaupaire, I hope that you are the better for Dr.
Villebois's treatment," said Marcel as he shook hands with him in the
salon while they were waiting for the dejeuner to be served.
"My dear sir, I confess I am better, but I cannot say I owe it to the
doctor," and Beaupaire gave Marcel a comical look. "Perhaps in my turn
I may be able to hope that you, my dear Marcel, are also better."
"Well, I am free from pain, but you must confess it was rather a mean
trick to play on a man who had done your daughter no harm," said
Marcel, looking at Violette and pretending to be very angry.
"Oh, Monsieur Marcel, please forgive me," said Violette, blushing
furiously and looking very sheepish. "I really did not mean to do it."
"You didn't mean to do it, then why did you do so? I received a fearful
shock, and suffered agonies for some hours afterwards."
Before Violette could reply, lunch was announced, and Marcel, following
his friend Riche's advice, bowed stiffly to Violette and followed
Beaupaire and Riche to the salle a manger.
Violette felt very uncomfortable and miserable as she puckered up her
mouth and gave a little sigh. But it did not escape Riche who was
watching the effect of Marcel's words with the eye of a connoisseur.
"It's all right, my boy," he whispered to Marcel as they sat down
together, "your case argues well. I can see that you will win her."
"How do you know that?" Marcel enquired.
"Quite simply. Did you not see when she sat down that she gave a little
sigh? That's one point. Then again I observed the comical look that her
father gave you when he trusted that you were also better. Now, my boy,
all you have to do is to keep your head and go steady, and she's yours
as sure as my name's Riche."
After lunch Marcel arranged to meet Violette at a spot where he could
talk to her unobserved. It required some manoeuvring as there were
very few places unoccupied. Riche very cunningly acted as a decoy by
first luring Violette into an unoccupied room, and then by making way
for Marcel, who entered the room apparently quite unconscious that
anyone was there. On seeing Violette he uttered an apology, and bowing
very politely turned round as if he intended to leave the room, when
Violette stopped him.
"Pardon me, Monsieur Marcel, I cannot allow you to leave without
obtaining your forgiveness for the injury I have done you. You will
forgive me, won't you? I wanted to ask you before lunch but we were
interrupted."
"Certainly I'll forgive you, and now let us shake hands to show that we
have made it up."
Violette held out her right hand.
"No," said Marcel, "one hand won't do for me, I must have both."
Violette laughed and held out both.
"That is better," said Marcel, putting his hand in his pocket and
pulling out a lovely diamond ring which he very adroitly slipped on the
fourth finger of her left hand, taking care to slip it past the joint.
Violette drew back with a little scream. "How dare you take a mean
advantage of me like that? You're a horrid man, I hate you," and
suiting her action to her words she tried to pull it off. But the
ring which Marcel had carefully selected to ensure its fitting tightly
refused to budge, much to his delight.
"I believe you selected a tight fitting ring on purpose," she said in
an angry tone of voice, looking very cross and almost in tears.
Marcel took his scolding with such a good-natured smile that Violette
felt she would have to laugh if she stayed any longer, so rushing past
him she ran to her father who was sitting down in an easy chair in the
next room.
"Father, just look at what Monsieur Marcel has done to me," and she
held out a very pretty finger for his inspection.
"That's a very charming ring he has given you," he replied with a
knowing wink.
"But, father, only think of his impudence in slipping the ring on my
finger by a horrid ruse, without even asking my permission. I think
it was a very mean trick to take advantage of me like that. Don't you
agree with me?"
"Well, to tell the truth I confess if I had been in his place I would
have done exactly the same thing," and Beaupaire burst into a hearty
laugh.
"Father, I don't like you a bit, I think you are horrid. I don't want
his ring," and she tried to pull it off once more. "Oh, this wretched
ring how am I to get it off?"
"Don't be a little goose, keep it on, my dear," and he took hold of her
hand and patted it affectionately. "I admire Monsieur Marcel's taste.
It is really a superb ring, and you ought to be very proud of it."
Violette stamped her pretty foot on the floor.
"Why do you always take Monsieur Marcel's part?" she asked with a
little pout of vexation.
"My dear child, I consider him to be a very charming man, clever,
highly polished and accomplished, very affectionate, and moreover the
possessor of a most respectable private income. Why, what more do you
want? He is a man who would make a most desirable husband. Besides, I
have every reason to believe that he sincerely loves you."
"But, father, do you really mean it?"
At this moment Marcel, who had been listening with his ear against the
door, came in.
Beaupaire came up and shook hands with him.
"My boy, I could not wish for a better man for a son-in-law."
"And I could not wish for a better lady for a wife than Violette,"
replied Marcel, his courage rising to undreamed-of heights.
"Take her, my boy, and if she loves you, as I have no doubt she does,
you will be a very happy man."
Violette blushed up to the roots of her hair, and Marcel took her by
the hand and asked her forgiveness.
"Well," she answered, laughing, "we are quits now."
"No, dear," replied Marcel, giving her a kiss on both cheeks, "not
quits but one."
"Do you really love me, George?" she enquired, looking up into his face.
"I loved you all the time, Violette, from the moment I first saw you."
Violette flung her arms round him and embraced him passionately.
"So did I," she whispered.
"Now, you silly children," said Beaupaire with a smile of satisfaction,
"you must make haste and get ready as the professor is on the point of
taking us to Monte Carlo."
Three carriages had been ordered, and at length the party, personally
conducted by the professor, entered the gardens of Monte Carlo.
"Here we are at last," said Delapine, "but before we enter the Casino
let us take a short walk round the buildings."
"In my opinion," said the professor, "Monte Carlo is the gem of the
Riviera. Here art and nature have contested for the palm of beauty.
To complete this fairy scene it was necessary for man to contribute
the magic of his art. Everything has been done by art to stimulate
the imagination. Note how the wild rocks have been blasted and hewn
out into broad and beautiful terraces, and how these are approached
by graceful stone steps wrought into exquisite curves and supported
on either side by numerous carved balustrades. Observe the smooth
well-kept lawns and terraced gardens and verandahs--the rich colouring
of the flowers, and the tropical plants and trees, while everything
is kept in the most perfect order and neatness. But although art has
contributed such pleasing effects, nature, not to be outdone, has laid
bare the rugged rocks and stupendous precipices as if to mock the
carefully thought out works of man. She has carved out the bay, and
allowed this bold promontory to project into the sea as if to defy the
elements. Just look at the exquisite fringe of the sea as the waves
toss their spray against the iron-bound rocks. It is both grand and
beautiful."
As the party walked round the Casino they heard a number of sharp
reports as if from a number of men firing.
"Oh! dear," cried Madame Villebois, "to think of these poor fellows
committing suicide in this dreadful way. I suppose they have all been
ruined in the Casino, and are now putting an end to themselves."
Villebois and Riche burst out laughing.
"I am ashamed of both of you, and you, Adolphe, ought to know better
than to laugh at such misery."
"Come this way, madame, and I will show you the suicides," said the
professor, "and you can then judge for yourself."
He conducted Madame Villebois, with great reluctance on her part, to
a spot where she could see the pigeon club. A number of members of
the club attired in the very latest and most approved costumes were
watching a couple of sportsmen alternately firing at some pigeons which
were being liberated from a row of traps.
"These are your suicides, madame," said the professor, smiling.
An elegantly dressed young lady, obviously belonging to the demi-monde
world, walked up to one of the sportsmen.
"Well, monsieur, it is a surprise to see you here. I suppose you have
come here for the pigeon match?"
"That is so, I am here for the shooting. And what are you here for?"
"Me? Oh! I am here for the pigeons."
The young man looked amused, and offering her his arm they strolled
together into the club.
Delapine and his party retraced their steps along the terrace to the
Casino. As they approached they heard the strains of a fine band
playing near at hand. "Come let us listen, there is nothing to pay, for
everything is free at Monte Carlo."
"Look! Here are Charley and Ridgeway," said Beaupaire to Violette.
"How do you do," said Charley, taking off his hat to Violette and her
father. "I suppose you are going into the Casino?"
"Yes, we are going there directly," said the professor, who overheard
what had just been said.
"May we accompany you?" asked the two Englishmen.
"Certainly, by all means," replied Delapine, "but I would advise you
not to play unless you can afford to lose."
"But we can afford to lose."
"Then you have no need to play," replied Delapine, smiling.
Charley and Ridgeway said nothing, but looked at each other and laughed.
Before them towered the Casino. They saw a large profusely decorated
monstrosity, erected regardless of expense, which was surmounted at
each end by a lofty tower. The building gave one the impression that
it had been built under the direction of some millionaire pork-packer
hailing from Chicago, rather than by the great architect of the famous
Opera House in Paris.
The party ascended the steps, and Delapine procured the tickets of
admission after a few formalities had been gone through.
"Now let us watch the fools lose their money," said Delapine as they
entered the Salon du Jeu.
Renée and Céleste opened their eyes wide as they entered the huge
gilded salon.
"If it were not for the double row of people standing round those
seated at the tables, it might be an examination hall!" said Marcel.
A row of ladies and gentlemen occupied every side of the dozen or more
green-covered tables, all intently gazing at a little ball as it hopped
about the wheel which revolved at the bottom of a large metal basin.
The party looked from one table to another. They were all replicas
of the first, although the phase of the game was different. Here the
people gathered around were busy placing coins on one or other of the
numerous squares marked out on the green cloth.
"Permit me to explain the game," said Delapine, pointing to the table
in front of him. "Watch the little wheel which the croupier has just
spun rapidly. You see it is divided into 37 equal compartments, each
bearing a number from 1 to 36, eighteen are coloured red, and eighteen
black, the remaining one being white, and is called Zero. The croupier
has just dropped the ball in the centre wheel which he has caused to
spin in the reverse direction. Now the wheel is slowing down, and the
ball rushes hither and thither knocking against various obstructions
until it drops into one of the 37 pockets. Contrary to the prevalent
idea you will observe that the players have a large choice in the
methods of staking their money. They may back red (rouge), or black
(noir), odd (impair) or even numbers (pair) or they may put their money
in the square representing any number below 19 (manque), or on the
square representing any number exceeding 18 (passe). In all these cases
if they win they receive the same amount as they have staked. Again the
player may place the stake on any single number which may be chosen,
including Zero, in which case as the chances are 36 to 1 against him,
he receives 35 times the stake. If, however, the ball falls into Zero,
the croupier gathers in every stake on the table, only paying those who
have backed Zero. The stakes, if they have been made on even chances,
are put, as they say, 'in prison' until the next throw, when they will
be returned to the player if the throw is favourable to them, but
if not, then they lose them. But a player can take such stakes out
of prison by paying half their value. Moreover you will notice that
the table is divided into three long columns, and sub-divided by two
horizontal lines, so that there are nine large squares. The centre
squares are sub-divided into three smaller ones each bearing one of the
36 numbers, while the outer large squares represent 'Passe,' 'Pair'
and 'Noir' on the one side, and 'Manque,' 'Impair' and 'Rouge' on the
other side, Zero being by itself at the top.
"This is the essence of the game, and the bank plays mechanically,
but absolutely fairly. The whole secret of the success of the bank
lies in the Zero. It is a wonderfully thought-out game," continued the
professor. "Omit Zero and whether you back red or black, odd or even,
or above or below 18, the chances are exactly even--it is the fatal
Zero which turns the scale all the time in favour of the bank, and
no matter what system is adopted the player is invariably beaten by
the Zero, provided he only plays long enough.[19] It is like the old
legend of the soul playing a game of chess with death. He may beat his
adversary time after time--but the fleshless fingers of death always
gain the victory in the end."
"Look at these fools," continued Delapine as he pointed at the silent
players. "Watch them with their note books entering the numbers down.
They all have their pet 'systems.' Some stake their money on their
birthday number, or the number of black cats they have seen during
the day, or a certain number they may happen to have dreamt of, or
any other absurd superstition. The majority, however, cling to the
Martingale fallacy."
"What is that?" asked Payot.
"A system based on faulty reasoning," said the professor. "It is common
knowledge that the same number or colour may recur two, three, four,
or half a dozen times running, and this will probably occur while we
are looking on, but the players think that the chances become less
and less for each additional recurrence, for the same colour has
never been known to recur more than twenty-five times running ever
since the Casino was started forty years ago, so the players, knowing
this, watched until the same colour has turned up say six or seven
times running, and then they back the opposite colour, doubling their
stakes each time they lose, although each time they run the risk of
Zero turning up and losing everything. The stupid players imagine that
they have a much better chance if they start backing the opposite
colour after a considerable sequence of one colour, under the mistaken
impression that what has just happened will influence the next throw.
They forget that they are playing against a soulless mechanical wheel,
and not against an emotional human being, and that even after red has
turned up twenty-five times, the probability that black will come up
next throw is not a bit greater than for red; the chances always remain
exactly the same.
"Gentlemen," added Delapine gravely, "all systems have invariably
failed, and always will fail, although they may often succeed for a
short time."
"I wonder whether Tennyson had this in his mind," said Marcel aside to
Violette, "when he said:--
"'Our little systems have their day,
They have their day and cease to be,
They have no chance to cope with thee,
And thou, O Blanc,[20] art more than they.'"
"O go on, Tennyson didn't really write that, did he?" enquired
Violette, looking at him with a puzzled expression of mingled
wonderment and doubt.
Marcel said nothing, but chuckled inwardly, and looked very knowingly.
"There is only one infallible way to get the better of the bank,"
continued Delapine.
"Oh! please, professor, do tell us what that is," they all exclaimed.
"Hush," said Delapine, "not so loud. Only wait until to-morrow and you
shall all see it for yourselves."
"Just look at that horrid old woman," said Violette in a half whisper.
"I saw her distinctly grab the winnings of another party who had placed
her gold piece on the line between two squares (à cheval I think you
call it.) Look, professor," and she pointed her out to him.
"I will soon stop her little game," said Delapine who had already
detected her at it.
Taking half a dozen Napoleons from his pocket, he wrote the words 'Je
suis voleur' (I am a thief) across the face of each in bold black
letters, and stepping forwards he tossed them with the printed face
downwards on the lines of several squares near her. The wheel spun
round, and just before the croupier shouted the usual formula "No
further play allowed," the woman in question gently pushed one of the
coins with her sleeve over the border into the "manque" square. The
ball dropped into number ten. "Dix, noir, pair, et manque," cried the
croupier. Her piece was pushed towards her by the dealer as at the
same time he tossed a Napoleon into the manque square. The old lady
at once picked the two coins up, but Delapine was too quick for her.
Seizing her closed hand he said very quietly, "Excuse me, these are my
winnings."
The lady became highly indignant. "How dare you," she cried, "these are
my coins. One of them I put down myself and the other was added by the
croupier."
Delapine immediately called one of the officials.
"Open your hand, madame, and let the coin be your judge before this
official."
The lady stared at Delapine and hesitated to do so, but the look the
professor gave her caused her to obey him at once.
"Please turn the coins over," said Delapine to the attendant. He turned
them over and the words "Je suis voleur" stared her in the face.
She dropped the coins and grew pale as death.
The lady was at once escorted to the door by two officials, and
politely bowed out of the building, vehemently protesting her
innocence. Four out of the six stakes were in Delapine's favour, and
handing his winnings to the officials he quietly walked to another part
of the room.
"Do tell us some more about the game," said Renée to her lover.
"Well, there is not much more to say."
"Are all the people playing, and do they all play the same way?"
"By no means, they are quite different. The players may be divided
into three classes," said Delapine with a cynical smile. "First, those
who play in order to retrieve their fortunes with an eye to the main
chance--such people invariably lose their money. Secondly, those who
play merely for the fun of the thing--these sometimes win, because
they know when to leave off. And lastly there are those who look on.
They enjoy the fun because it costs them nothing, and at the same time
they flatter their vanity by giving advice--which by the way is always
wrong, with a superb faith in their own infallibility."
"Where do the plungers come in, professor?" asked Riche.
"The plungers! Oh, they consist of men who have either everything or
nothing to lose, and women who always play with other people's money.
Look there," he added, pointing to a beautiful fair woman with a long
graceful neck ornamented by a diamond necklace ending in a magnificent
diamond and sapphire pendant. She was very elegantly dressed, and was
sitting at the table with a sheaf of bank notes and several rolls of
gold between her hands.
"Which class does she belong to?" asked Violette.
"She is a distinguished member of the first class," replied the
professor.
"Do you notice that rather handsome young man with fair curly hair, and
a pointed glossy beard just standing behind her?" said Marcel. "See he
is whispering something in her ear."
"What a large sum she has put on to black," exclaimed Renée.
"Yes," said Delapine, "it is the maximum stake (6,000 frs.)."
"Look! Look!" said Renée, "she has won," as she saw 12,000 frs. worth
of notes passed over to her by the croupier.
The curly headed gentleman squeezed her hand, "Didn't I tell you so,"
he said with a smile.
Delapine's party at once became intensely interested in her, wondering
what would happen next.
"See she is listening to him again, and now she has put 6,000 frs. on
'red,' and 6,000 frs. on 'impasse,' and the same amount on 'even.'"
"Lord! what a pile of money," said Marcel, "Wouldn't I look a lovely
bird if I were to be dressed up at that expense."
"You are quite good-looking enough without spending 18,000 francs on a
new suit," replied Violette, laughing.
They all watched the little ball with intense eagerness as it jumped
about as if it were alive, cannoning off one obstacle after another,
until at length tired of its exertions it tumbled into number 11.
"Onze, noir, impair, et manque," shouted the croupier mechanically.
"Ciel! she has lost everything, what dreadful luck," said Violette, as
the croupier raked in all her notes with a remorseless movement of his
little rake.
The lady turned round with quivering lips and clenched hands.
"Beast," she hissed, "why didn't you hold your silly tongue? Look what
has happened through my following your advice. You assured me that I
was bound to win--and now see what you have done," and she scowled at
him again.
At this moment her adviser happened to glance at Delapine and the
rest of his party, but apparently he was satisfied that none of them
recognised him, for after giving them another glance he walked rapidly
to the door and disappeared.
"I seem to know his face," said Riche.
"I was just thinking the same thing," said Marcel. "Did you recognise
him, professor?"
Delapine's face clouded, and he set his lips firmly together, but did
not reply.
Renée was looking at her lover, and her hand trembled as she watched
the change which came over his face. She caught hold of his hand.
"Don't worry your little head, Renée," said Delapine gently. "Riche,"
he continued, "I should be obliged if you and Marcel will do me the
favour to follow that gentleman who has just left the salon, and let me
know what he is doing and where he is living. Come and report to me at
the hotel. I shall be leaving myself very soon. But be sure and don't
let him see you, and don't tell a soul."
Riche nodded, and taking Marcel's arm the two hurriedly left the room.
"I think I will take a photo of the scene," said Delapine to the
others, "if you will allow me." So saying he rapidly focussed his
camera on the lady who had lost her money, and seizing a favourable
opportunity when no one was looking at him, pressed the button and
secured her photograph.
"Why did you take her photograph?" said Renée, looking very anxious.
"You can trust me, can't you?" said the professor.
"Why of course. You know I didn't mean that. It can't be--Monsieur--"
She saw a quivering of her lover's lips, and never concluded the
sentence. A deadly pallor swept over her face, and she would have
fallen had not Delapine steadied her with his arm.
"Now I think we have seen enough for to-day," said the professor, as he
folded up his camera and led the way out of the Casino.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 19: As there are 36 numbers and one Zero, the chances are one
in 37 in favour of the bank over those of the player, or 2.7 per cent.,
but owing to the refait which places the stakes on even chances into
prison when Zero turns up, it reduces the percentage in favour of the
bank on those chances to one half that, or 1.35 per cent. As, however,
the money staked is turned over and over again, the bank makes 90 per
cent. per annum on its total capital invested, which amounts to about
twenty million francs annually.]
[Footnote 20: M. Blanc established the tables, and his family hold most
of the shares.]