The rapid getting of money has never appealed to me, who have always had sufficient for my moderately epicurean needs, and least of all did it appeal to me now when I was on the brink of my journey to the land where French gold and bank notes were not in currency.

I repeat, therefore, that I was bored.
"If the perils of the adventure don't begin soon, my dear Professor," I whispered, "I shall go to sleep standing." Again he asked for patience and staked a hundred-franc note.

At that moment the man sitting at the table in front of him rose, and the dwarf slipped swiftly into his seat.

He won his hundred francs and made the same stake again.

It was obvious that the little man did not damn gambling.