THE BACCARAT KING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19804, 21 May 1934, Page 11

THE BACCARAT KING

A MAN OF MYSTERY. Nicholas Zo-graphos—the Greek King of Baccarat—was in London recently with four members of his gaming syndicate. The stream of inquirers who call at his hotel do not see M. Zo-graphos, says the special representative of the “Daily Express.” The Gaming King pleads his ignorance of English and is never on view. Instead they are met by his chief lieutenant. M. Jacques Ehrlich, who answers till questions. I sent the man of mystery a little note in French recently. True to form he sent down Jacques Ehrlich. “Understand”, said the chief lieutenant, “Zo-graphos never speaks to any one. He is the silent Baccarat Bank. Call him ti Sphinx if you will. Many have done so. But I tell you he is merely simple, honest, good, and straightforward. To these qualities he 0./es his success as a gambler. People like to play with a man they can trust, and for thirty years now he has led the Zo-graphos Syndicate, who tour from casino to casino in France. The game is between the punters and the bank. It is played until the bank is either broken or the punters are beaten out.” “The French are a nation of gamblers. and among them the good name and credit of Zo-graphos are as firm as the national bank. It is a pity that these hard times have killed gambling in France.” “Is that why you have come to England?” I asked. “Ah, non, non, non,” he burst forth. “Gambling is against the law in England. C’est defendu. Absolument.” “We have come to get clothes,” he said, exhibiting his Bond Street tie and Savile Row grey uit. “And to see our English friends.” He kissed my hand, clicked his heels, and was gone. A gambler of charm.