Chance now turned, as
might be expected, and thousand-franc bank-notes soon accumulated
in the hands of Olivier, who, intoxicated by this possession,
worked away with incredible ardour. Moreover, the count was not
in the least out of humour at losing so immensely; on the
contrary, he was quite jovial; indeed, from his looks he might
have been supposed to be the winner. At length, however, he said
with a smile, taking a pinch from his golden snuff-box--'I am
evidently not in vein. I have lost eighty thousand francs. I
see that I shall soon be in for one hundred thousand. But it is
proper, my dear sir, that I should say I don't make a habit of
losing more than this sum at a sitting; and if it must be so, I
propose to sup before losing my last twenty thousand francs.
Perhaps this will change my vein. I think you will grant me this
indulgence.' The proposal was agreed to.
Olivier, almost out of his senses at the possession of eighty
thousand francs, could not resist the desire of expressing his
gratitude to Chauvignac, which he did, grasping his hand with
emotion and leading him into a corner of the room.
Alas! the whole thing was only an infamous conspiracy to ruin the
young man.
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