THE CASCADE OF GOLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 8

THE CASCADE OF GOLD.

(By William Le Queux in " C.-i.-.seli’s Magazine.”)

I was sitting one bright afternoon at a certain little table outside the Cafe de Paris, Monaco, idling over a cigarette and a niazagran. It was my favourite resort at about 4 o’clock, for while skimming the “Figaro” I can, if I choose watch each person who ascends or descends the Casino steps, while very often the cosmopolitan chatter at the tables in my vicinity is of unusual interest to me. On such occasions I present, outwardly, the appearance of a well-to-do Parisian, and, although the professional gamblers and the staff are well aware who and what I am, the hundreds of thousands of strangers moving through the Principality have no idea of rny true position. As is usual on a sunny afternoon, the tables about me were crowded ,the redcoated Hungarian band was playing some pretty waltzes, the British section of the crowd sipped tea, while the French allowed absinthe to driboie into their glasses. The Place was bright with flowers, and beneath the trees hundreds of people were sitting, enjoying that sweet calm hour before the chill wind comes up from the sea, and the Italian coast beyond San Remo grows purple in the dying day.

Within the hot stifling rooms the perspiring perfumed crowds were losing and winning, struggling gleefully to snatch up their gains, or sighing as they saw their stakes raked in to swell the bank; wihle outside in the balmy air, sweet with the scent of flowers, all was so pleasant and restful—so beautnul, indeed, that it seemed impossible that such a spot should be the centre of all the evil passions which dominate the world. It is a vivid contrast, the Monte .Carlo without and the Monte Carlo within. How much of human life one sees at those tables ; what a strange eidl world it is, that fevered world of rouge et noir, passing daily across those polished floors, and vainly striving to win fortune ! Even the colours of the roulette wheel possess an obvious signification—tho red for blood, and the black for crime.

As I sat in lazy attitude, my thoughts far from my surroundings, some words uttered in a man’s voice at a table behind me caught my ear, and brought me back to a consciousness of where I was.

The words were unexpected, and .spoken in a curious squeaking voice, the owner of which I knew, without turning to look at him. He was an cid man named Pasquale, an inveterate player, who had boon known in the rooms for many years. He lived in Nice, and regularly, twice a week, the whole year round, he came over and played throughout the afternoon, always with great care and precision. One of his eccentricities was that, when in the rooms, he carried in his hand a huge baglike purse, worked in coloured beads of the style of a century ago ; and legend had it that lie believed this bag brought him good fortune, he having used it on. one celebrated occasion when, nearly twenty years before, lie hact made an unusual large coup. Tins bead-purse was often remarked upon by his fellowplayers, who smiled at the old fellow’s eccentricity, half inclined to pity bis seeming imbecility. He was, however, no fool. Indeed, few shrewder men fre-

quented the rooms than Francesco Pasquale, for when he played bis eyes were everywhere, and as lie stood behind the croupier, handing him ins pieces, and giving him instructions in a low half-whisper —as though lie were acting in contravention of some ride—be certainly presented a mysterious figure, yet he was one of the most clear-headed gamesters I have ever known. I have seen him lose ten, and even fifteen thousand francs in an hour with perfect sang-froid, and I have, on the other hand, watched him win similar amounts, and then walk back down the steps to the station without even affording himself the luxury of a demi-tasse or a bock. He hated what we always term “ the small change crowd,' namely, the people who, after collecting a few odd five-franc pieces, come to Monte Carlo expecting to gain a fortune, and he never failed to vent his sarcasm upon them.

The words he had uttered were, however, puzzling. I kept my ears open in the hope of something further, but the old fellow maintained a discreet silence. His companion laughed, and when I gave a furtive glance in their direction I saw that the man sitting opposite him was an ugly hunchback, small of stature, with a pale face and drawn, black hair, and a thin scraggy beard. One of the features . of Monte Carlo is its hunchbacks. By many players the sight of them is supposed to portend good fortune. Perhaps, nowhere else on the Continent is there such an infinite variety of the deformed as you may see in the rooms. . .'“Of course, the thing is quite easy,” the elder man observed at length, slowly . puffing at his cigarette, for the gambler never indulges in cigars until after play -is over. When he goes out to the Cafe -to “change his luck,” and slake that terrible thirst one develops in those crowded rooms, he whiffs his Laurens and quaffs the grateful bock. ylfWould a very large capital be rerequired?” the hunchback inquired, in a tone of affected carelessness. “I don’t think so. fifty thousand francs/ the sum you mention, would be quite sufficient,” the old man responded. “ But, of course, there’s-a risk—a terrible risk.' A slight blunder would be disastrous.” - The deformed man laughed. “To blunder would be quite out of the question,” he said. “Mo effect such a coup the arrangements must bo perfect. . But isn’t it unwise to discuss the matter here ?;” he added in a lower tone. “Somei one might overhear, you know.” f. Pasquale agreed, and both rose and crossed to the Casino again. Later that day, owing to instructions I gave Grenat, the doorkeeper, I disj covered that the hunchback’s name was , Paul Remenyi, of Vienna, and that he was staying at the Grand Hotel. My suspicions being aroused, i accidentally lounged into the hair-dresser’s in the Rue de la Ocala, next morning, and, while waiting, discovered the hunchback there. He spoke enthusiastically of the beauties of the Principality, the attractions of the play, the excellence of the music, and, as far as I could judge, was a highly educated and refined man. /No, he had not . lost yesterday. He had won two zeros at roulette, staking a louis each time. He did not intend to play very much : lie had come solely for the air and the music. In the clubs of Vienna there was a good deal of high play, and he con fessed he was never lucky. These and other things he told me as we sat in the barber’s saloon ; then, after submitting ourselves to the attendant, we parted. Nearly a fornight elapsed, and I saw nothing of Pasquale. I had many affairs on hand, for during the season the, rooms are always crowded, and our surveillance is, consequently, more strict. Yet I could not get out of my head those strange words which the old gambler had uttered. That some combination existed between the two men was certain, but there are many pairs of professional gamblers who are partners, and many who artexcellent fellows withal. Among tne professional crowd which frequents Monte Carlo daily, year in and year out, are men of all nationalities and all grades of life, some the very scum of Europe, .others thorough sportsmen, good-hu-moured, open-handed, and ever ready to do their less fortunate brethren a good turn. Indeed, I must confess that more than once I have received verv valuable hints from one or other of these men whom the public are so fond of denouncing. Their methods, to say the least, are more honest than those of the Hebrew usurers who haunt the place, ever ready to fleece the youngster or advance sums upon property at exorbitant inter..*.t. On the night of the Battle of Confetti at Nice, having another mat f pr in Land, I found it necessary to go to the redoute or bal-masque, on the Jeteo IVomeiuMc, that pier-like structure which is the most prominent feature of the esplanade. I chose a pierrot’s dress of the Carnival colours, mauve and d’eau. am) entered the theatre about eleven o’clock, just as dancing was in full swing. Only those who have spent a Carnival at Nh<> ami attended the balls know the w ; Mno-s of the dancing and the mad frolic them Perhaps the company is not very sobr.-t, but, at any rate, the fun is always furious, the costumes vie with each other m quaintness of design, and J:ho mystery of the mask always leads to amusing complications, wild jealousies, striking situations, and unusual hilarity This occasion was no exception. The theatre was crowded until there was but 1 Itf 1 1* space for dancing, the Oriental rooms

were filled with those who did not cave for the colistand whirl and rather rough horseplay, while in the restauiant one heard constant calls for Mar wines ami Pommery. Masked, like all the others, I m my way with difficulty through in search of the man upon whom I had for several days been keeping observation, a young Russian who was wanted by the .Moscow police, but of whose identity I was not sufficiently .certain. But, though 1 searched through room after room, I could not find him, and concluded that he had been prevented from coming. From the theatre, where the dancing had opened with a quadrille by four wellknown dancers from the Moulin Rouge, and where paper confetti and serpentines were being showered upon all and sundry by the, occupants of the loges, a door opened into the cafe, and, passing in, I paused there for a drink. For fully half an hour I wandered about, dancing now and then with unknown partners, until suddenly, in the fine Moorish room used ordinarily as a reading-room, I saw a dwarfed figure in a dress representing ticEnglish Punch. He was seated in a corner with a lady dressed as a clown in black satin, studded with silver moons, •who, from the lower part of her face and the plump whiteness of her dimpled hands, I judged to be young and attractive. He spoke, and in an instant I recognised the voice of the hunchback Eemenyi. Just then a lady, passing me, laughed merrily in my face, and, eager for any excuse to remain in that room, I invited her to dance with me. “ M’sieur is very kind,” answered a well-modulated voice in French, which, however, was not quite perfect in its accent. “ But for the moment I prefer to remain here. It is too hot and crowded in the theatre.” I noticed she was looking across at the lady in the clown’s dress. “A pretty dress that, is it not?”-I remarked. “Yes,” she replied. And if I mistake not, its wearer is even prettier.” “ You know her? ” I inquired eagerly. “ Yes, if she’s the lady I mean. Her name is Madame de Gouricff, and she comes from Petersburg.” “ And you, rnadame, are Russian al-o—-eh?” I inquired. “What makes you think that?” she asked with a low laugh. “ Only a- Russian can pronounce the word ‘Petersburg’ as you have just pronounced it,” I answered. “ M’sieur is shrewd,” she observed, in rather a strange tone, as if annoyed that she should thus involuntarily betray her nationality. “I am interested in that lady,” I said. “Tell me more of her. Were you acquainted with ner in Petersburg?” “ No,” she answered, rather evasively. “ I have, however, seen her there many times.” “ Is she a lady ? ” “ She belongs to a very good family, I believe.” “And her companion—what of him?” “ Ah 1 I know nothing, ' she answered with an expressive gesture of her hands. At that instant I noticed that, at her throat, beneath her domino cf mauve satin, she wore a brooch with a tiny watch enamelled in blue and set with diamonds. It was a splendid little ornament, and I marked its appearance well. At her suggestion, we strolled at last into the theatre, yiie was an excellent dancer, and seemed thoroughly to enjoy the wild uproarious fun. We were covered with paper confetti, but, heedless of all, whirled on around the theatre, laughing merrily the while. At last, however, a tall masker playing the role of Mephistoplieles approached us, and claimed her as his partner; therefore, with a polite adieu, I turned and left her, returning at once to the Moorish room. But the dwarf had gone. In vain I searched, blit both he and his companion had vanished. I returned to Monte Carlo by the early morning train, baffled and disappointed. Some days later, however, I met the hunchback in the roulette room, aucl lie was accompanied by a young, dark-eyed pale-faced lady, whom i judged to be about the same stature as his companion at the ball ; but- I could not tell with any degree of accuracy, because I had only seen her seated. She was not more than twenty-five, and her face was very pretty, with a grave, intense expression, which added to its attractiveness. Her dress of dark grey stuff was not exactly of that elegance usually seen at Monte Carlo, vet it fitted well, and suited her admirably.

Together they walked over to one of the roulette table-, where Cm.- dwarf touched on the shoulder a man who sat there. He turned. It was Fasquaie. The old fellow, with hi- beati-pur-e before him, recognising the new-comer.-, greeted them affably, while the panwalked over to the trente-et-quarante, and there risked a few louis without sueC(?SS. As I stood watching, the pretty young woman took off one of her glove-, more easily to handle her louis, thereby revealing to me a white hand with dimpled knuckles, the same I had noticed at the ball. By this one fact alone I was convinced that she was Madame de Gouricff, and a few moments later my interest in her was increased by a dumb motion which she made to a tall, florid-faced, fair-haired man, who was sitting at the opposite side of the table. It was as it she desired him to remain patient. In return, lie smiled cynically, as if tired of waiting, and, resting both his elbows upon the green cloth, consulted the registercard before him. Suddenly he rose, awl, as he passed her closely without stopping to speak, she whispered to him—- “ You’re a fool. Be patient. You know what a single blunder would mean! “I’m sick of the whole thing,” he replied, half turning towards her. “ v ery well,” she answered. “ Yen have the remedy in your own hands.” He shrugged hi- shoulders with a careess air, and passed on clown the room. All except Pasquale left the Casino soon afterwards ; but, as the old gamester knew me so well, I hesitated to spoaic to him yet, fearing lest by so doing it might prevent the truth becoming known. That there was some mysterious system about to be worked against the bank felt assured, but of what nature I could only discover by viligant observation. Several days went by and I saw them not. One morning I nouced Remenyi lounging in one of the wicker chairs in the entrance cf the Grand Hotel, smoking and reading a paper, but he did net enter the rooms. The fair-haired man apparently lived in Nice, and, in order to find out what I could, I went over there one morning, and took a turn m tne sunshine along the Promenade des Anglais. ane magnificent esplanade is the gayest, brightest, happiest spot in all Europe on a February morning ; a spot where society suns itself, and where the gamsters of Monte Carlo nreache the pure air after the heat aim excitement o; the previous nighc. All is colour, movement, life, and laughter as the crowd of promenaders, in summer costume-, tne men in straw hats, or those grey felt onepeculiar to the Riviera, and. the women win! sunshades, stroll leisurely the whole length of tne broad cemented footway. Among the merry throng I lounged along, with wary eye examining every passer-by, noding acquaintance with one or two regular habitues of the room-, men and women who take their airing each morning along the promenade, and spend the remainder of the day at the tapis vert, wrestling with the hazard. Suddenly, an object caught my eye as it missed, flashed for an instant m the sunlight. I turned and glanced a second time at it to make certain, 'l es, it was the little jewelled watch which the fair masker had worn at the ball on the Jctoe. It now hung openly on the smart white serge coat of its owner, a well-dressed, young, and rather handsome woman, who was walking alone in the direction of the Quai Masseur.. She had passed ere 1 had time to glance at her, therefore I could only catch sight of her profile. But in an instant I made a resolve, and, turning, followed her. That she knew more of the mysterious Nina de Gouriefl than she told me was evident, and i. intended to make a strenuous endeavour to di-cover ad I COllhl.

As I got level with her I raised my hat and claimed acquaintance. At first she was inclined to repudiate having met me, but when I explained by what means I had discovered her identity she laughed heartily, and we began to chat as we walked along together. With infinite care I led up to the conversation to the woman de Gouricff, but in an instant her mouth closed, and she glanced at me with a quick look of suspicion. In the course of our careless gossip she, however, let drop the fact that she intended going over to Monte Carlo that afternoon; therefore, resolving to meet her again there, as if by accident, I wished her au revoir, opposite the Hotel des Anglais, and we parted. About three o’clock that same afternoon I was iu the bureau of the Administration when mv fair acquaintance

entered, and, to obtain her card of ad-mi--ion, pre.-mted her passport, bound up in one of those neat little gilt-edged books which the better-class Russians carry. I* nob served, I glanced at it as it lay open in her hand, and saw upon the grey paper, headed with the Russian arms, a. vi-e, which caused me a start of surprise. Her name, it stated, was Vera .Severine, and when, a quarter of an hour later, I encountered her in the rooms and addressed her by that name she looked at me quickly, with mingled annoyance and surprise. “Madame has no necessity to disguise her identity from me,” I exclaimed meaningly in a low voice. “l am chief cf the Surveillance here. My name is Martin— Antoine Martin.” She laughed rather nervously, aijd admitted that she had heard of me. ‘ ‘I noticed the vise on Madamo’s. passport,” 1 exclaimed. “It bears the special stamp of the Ministry, which shows Madame to be an agent of Secret Police. In such circumstances there is assuredly no need for secrets between us. If i can awl you. command me. As you know. I urn in weekly communication with your central oureau in St. Petersburg. 1 presume that the person who interests you is this Madame de Gouriefl-—eh ? ” “ You have guessed aright,” she admitted, as we strolled down the room together. “She is a Revolutionist—president of the Zurich. Council of Twenty.” “The president ! ” I exclaimed. “Then she’s a Nihilist. And your orders? ” “To watch her closely. Aided by my husband, I have been keeping observation upon her for these last three month.-. She has no money, and has come to Monte Carlo to replenish her funds.” “ And this Austrian, Remenyi, what of him. r ” “She has only lately made his acquaintance. From what I have observed, there I- seme compact between them. She is to meet him here this afternoon.” Scarcely had this handsome woman, whose passport gave her immunity from arrest throughout the Czar’s empire, uttered these words when she saw the pair approaching, and moved away to escape observation. They walked on to the right-haml trente-et-quarante table, where Pas undo was already seated ,and stood for some time intently watching the game. Aladame Severine left me to wa. der about alone, having agreed that we would both keep the pair under observation. I -iw her later on seated at the til Itausa's side, playing quite as eagerly as any other gambler. She had been trained in that excellent school over which the Russian Minister of the interior presides. A woman, being quicker of perception, always makes a better secret agent than a man—a fact of which the Russian Government haa long ago taken advantage. A seat at last becoming vacant, next to Ouzel, the tailleur, the ugly little Austrian in an instant “marked” it by flinging down a louis. Then, leisurely seat ng himself, with his companion standing behind his chair, he commenced playing with precision and care. Suddenly, just as two blustering men — one of whom was the fair-haired player, who iiad previously expressed impatience —demanded gold in exchange for notes, Madame de Gouriefl' drew from her pocket a paper containing about a thousand francs in gold, and, in her haste to stake a louis upon the table, the paper broke, and the gold fell to the floor in a perfect cascade, the louis rolling away beneath the feet of the players, under the chairs and under tne table. This created hopeless confusion, for nearly everybody rose in order that the attendants might collect the fallen money, while Madame, red and confused, uttered a thousand pardon-. Even the chef de partie descended from his high chair, and glanced around to seek the missing coin. The hunchback uttered a word of apology to Crnzel that his companion should have caused any interruption in the game; but soon afterwards all sottied again, and there sounded the wellknown invitation—

“ Messieurs, faites vos jeux.” Nina de Gouriefl', with a gambler’s fear lest her gold, once fallen, should bring her ill-luck, took some notes from her pocket and placed twelve, the maximum, on the noir, while, strangely enough, the deformed man acted in a similar manner. “ Eien no va plus ! ” cried the tailleur, and he dealt the cards swiftly in two ranges. “ Deux, six, rouge perd et couleur gagne !” Cruzel exclaimed loudly a moment later, raking in the stakes upon the red.

Both the man and the woman had won the maximum, and were paid with the swiftness and precision which characterises the fulfilment of the obligations of the bank. Again came the invitation to play, and both staked upon the black, while Pasquale, noticing his friend’s good fortune, also threw' twelve thousand francs on the coleur.

“Quatre, cinq, rouge perd et coleur

gagne-! ” was Cruzel’s announcement a few seconds later, the excitement at the table becoming intense wJien it was noticed that all three had won the maximum.

Cruzel was paying swiftly, when Madame Severine approached me hastily, saying—- “ There is some mystery here. Have those cards counted ! ”

I glanced at the chef de partie, whom I saw puzzled because all the high cards were black, and waited.

Again the game was made, and a third time the trio won ; then, as the Chef bent over to Cruzel, Madame de Gourieff rose quickly, gathered up ner winnings, and left.

Noticing this, I whispered a word to the chef de partie, who stopped the game, and ordered me to conduct Cruzel to the Bureau, w’hich lat once did. The cards were at once counted, and it was discovered that there were thirty cards in addition to those supplied to that table that morning !

According to Madame Severine’s statement it appeared that the conspiracy had been carefully worked out, and that Nina de Gourieff and her two confederates, having created a confusion, Remenyi had at that instant slipped unnoticed into Cruzel’s hand a pack of prepared cards. Then, when all became tranquil, the players had placed down the maximum, confident of success.

The hunchback was arrested down in the Condamine half an Hour later, and both were, in due course, tried before the Tribunal at Monaco, sentences of two years’ imprisonment being passed upon them. Against Pasquale nothing conclusive could be proved; while Nina de Gourieff, ingenious always, succeeded in getting away with her winnings, together with the two loud-voiced men who had demanded change for a thousand francs at the instant she had allowed her gold to tumble from her hand.

Six months afterwards, how,war, I received a letter from Madame Severine, dated from St. Petersburg, stating that the woman who had so cleverly planned the fraud had been arrested in a suburb of Moscow, and had been banished to Nerchinsk, in Siberia, as a dangerous Nihilist.

Prior to this incident the cards used at trente-et-quarante could be purchased at the stationer’s in the Gallerie Charles HI., but ever since the greatest care has been exercised in order to render similar fraud inpossible. Each night the cards used are counted, verified, re-arranged in their original packs, and placed in envelopes, bearing the date on which they are used, and the signatures of the tailleur and chief of the service. For five years they are preserved, and afterwards burned.

Many have been the attempts made from time to time upon the bank, but certainly none was more daring that that signalled by Nina de Gouneffk' cascade of gold.