A TALE OF MONTE CARLO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 10

A TALE OF MONTE CARLO.

M. Blanc, the founder of the Casino at Monte Carlo —which really means Monte Carlo itself—was very eccentric. If he had ever been young there is no record of the fact, for he is always described as a little old gentleman, clad in a long coat, and walking with the aid of a yellow cane, without which he was never seen during his waking hours. Though enormously wealthy he was excessively thrifty in trifling matters, and would haggle like an old clothes man to save a franc on articles for his personal use, though he thought nothing of expending hundreds of thousands of francs in beautifying the Casino and the miniature city. He was never known to play at the tables, excepting on one occasion, and then it was a somewhat costly experience. While on a visit to- the Wiesbaden Casino with Mme. Blanc he was in the habit of accompanying her on a morning stroll each day. During one of these walks Madame complained of the heat of the sun, and requested her husband to buy her a. parasol. Accordingly the tw<? entered the shop, where madame selected a very pretty article, worth eighty francs—about £3 4s —which M. Blanc, with a scowl and a muttered grumble, paid. When the Casino opened at noon great was the astonishment of the croupiers and the visitors to see M. Blanc place two louis on the red at one of the trente et quarante tables. The attendants hastened to get him a chair, but he declined, saying he was only going to remain a few minutes. When the cards were dealt he won, and taking up the winnings left the original stake on the table. For a second time he won, and had now got back the price of the umbrella. But not content, he ventured another louis, which this time he lost. Somewhat annoyed at this, the founder of the place doubled the stake and won, thus getting back the cost of the umbrella again. Determined, however, to regain his two louis, he staked them again, only to see them raked in by the bank. Thus he kept on winning and losing, but never able to recover the two louis, till at last he found himself 25 louis out and the gold his pocket book contained. A 1000 franc note he had was quickly changed and followed up. Then, becoming exasperated, he cashed his cheque for a large sum, and, sitting down, commenced the battle in earnest. Hour after hour passed, but M. Blanc, his eyes fixed on the treacherous pasteboards, never budged from his post. He kept on planking down heavy stakes until the last deal was declared, when, calmly rising, he seized his yellow cane and made his way through the gaping onlookers into the open air. On reaching home he found Mme. Blanc playing “ Patience ” with a pack of cards, the offending parasol being on the table. “ Madame,” said the old gentleman, “ do yon know what that thing has cost me ?” “ Mais oui, mon ami. It cost you 80 francs." “ Madame," rejoined he, “ you are mistaken. I have just paid the bill —91,000 francs." Madame’s sunshade had cost no less than £3,640.