With four pools at fifty francs each, I could win two hundred thousand francs, and that's much surer than the turning up of a trey." He tried to think where the old woman was likely to have hid the money.
On the days preceding festivals, Agathe went to church and stayed there a long time; no doubt she confessed and prepared for the communion.

It was now the day before Christmas; Madame Descoings would certainly go out to buy some dainties for the "reveillon," the midnight meal; and she might also take occasion to pay up her stake.

The lottery was drawn every five days in different localities, at Bordeaux, Lyons, Lille, Strasburg, and Paris.

The Paris lottery was drawn on the twenty-fifth of each month, and the lists closed on the twenty-fourth, at midnight.
Philippe studied all these points and set himself to watch.

He came home at midday; the Descoings had gone out, and had taken the key of the _appartement_.