The estrangement between husband and wife was part of his scheme, largely his doing.

He was all the time working to make the breach wider.

The visit to Monte Carlo, rather a difficult accomplishment, he had arranged.

He had seen with delight the necessity for some form of excitement growing up in her, had watched her losses and only wished that they had been larger.

He had encouraged her to play for higher stakes and found that she needed very little encouragement indeed.