It was useless to look for Mrs.Vivian's little circle, on the terrace of the Conversation-house, for the storm in the afternoon had made the place so damp that it was almost forsaken of its frequenters.

Bernard spent the evening in the gaming-rooms, in the thick of the crowd that pressed about the tables, and by way of a change--he had hitherto been almost nothing of a gambler--he laid down a couple of pieces at roulette.

He had played but two or three times, without winning a penny; but now he had the agreeable sensation of drawing in a small handful of gold.
He continued to play, and he continued to win.

His luck surprised and excited him--so much so that after it had repeated itself half a dozen times he left the place and walked about for half an hour in the outer darkness.

He felt amused and exhilarated, but the feeling amounted almost to agitation.