There is also the case of an important Indian army officer who went
broke. The authorities gave him first-class passage to Calcutta, and
$250 expense money. He had lost several thousands. As much as $2,500
has been paid out to a big loser so that he could settle up his hotel
bill and take himself and family home. Should such money be paid back
the Casino might again welcome the man. The sums usually paid range
from $25 to $200, and an average of 1,000 people a year apply for this
relief. The profits of the Casino are immense. Last year they were
$7,500,000, an increase of $760,000 over the previous year. Seventy
per cent was paid to the shareholders. The majority of the shares are
held by the Blanc family, the leading member of which is the Princess
Marie Bonaparte, whose father was Prince Roland Bonaparte, and mother
the daughter of M. Blanc, the founder of Monte Carlo. She is the
wealthiest princess in the world, and was lately married to Prince
George of Greece, who is an impecunious princeling and needs the money.