The Smart Set: Correspondence & Conversations

Well, on the other side of Bobbie was Mrs. – , red in the face, so angry she was asked to meet Madame Romedek, talking with poor Bobbie in a sharp, spasmodic sort of way, as if she were carrying on the conversation with her knife and fork, cutting the sentences into bits, some ignoring and some eating, – and none agreeing with her, or she agreeing with none. Then George Ringold asked, I suppose, for me. I am quite aware that women who are indiscreet themselves think there is "more than meets the eye" between George and me. I am very fond of him, and so is Dick. And he has kissed me, and Dick knows it; but I am sure I need not tell you that is all. On the other side was Romedek, and perhaps I ought to feel complimented, but as, thanks to Mrs. Westington, we didn't succeed in carrying on to a finish any single conversation we started, I don't allow myself to be too flattered.

Mrs. W. talked music, of course – the commonplaces of it – such as any well-bred, smart, educated woman of the world knows how to talk nowadays, with perhaps just one good, big, absurd mistake thrown in, – thus, by the grace of humor keeping banality from becoming absolutely fatal. Madame Romedek was rather amusing. She tried to be the lady – which, as she doesn't know how, and only succeeds in being impossibly stupid, must have bored the men on each side of her tremendously. That's where foolish women of that sort spoil their own game. If they would make the best of the bargain, and be frankly a common cocotte gone right, they would certainly be more amusing, and might have something like success, at any rate with the men.

The food was excellent, the wine good, the house lovely! And as soon after dinner as was at all decent, we left. We decided in the cab on our way home, from no point of view had it paid, – financially least of all; for our dinner in the restaurant, with all our jolly friends, would have cost us only seventy-five cents, while our cab bill for the evening was three dollars. As for having had a good time, there was only one person there who had that – Mrs. Westington herself. I believe even the servants must have been bored by the dinner, unless, perhaps, Madame Romedek flirted with them; which I should think extremely likely.

I am getting sleepy now, of which fact my letter undoubtedly bears "internal evidence." So good night and sweet dreams to you, and none to me – I don't like them!

Write me what you are doing in Paris. I am sure your husband will have his usual great success in the Champ de Mars. We are all very proud of him.

With love, dear Dora,Guenne Barrows.

The Gamblers

IThe Baccarat Table in the Villa des Fleurs, Aix-les-BainsMADAME EUGENIE LEBLANCHE, veuve

(A large, stout lady in black satin and brocade, violet-colored face-powder, and a reddish blonde display underneath a questionable bonnet. She wears a somewhat profuse and miscellaneous display of jewels, principally diamonds dull as the eyes of dissipation. She holds her chips in large loose white cotton gloves that reach to her elbow. Her lips, compressed together, move constantly, with a sort of excited switch-back motion.)

(To herself.) I wonder who has the cards. Oh, it's that monsieur there, I see. Not good! I will only place two louis. (She asks the gentleman in front of her to place them for her. He does so.) No, I am wrong, I will put three. (She asks the gentleman to place a third louis for her. In doing so the chip rolls from his fingers; he immediately recaptures it and places it properly.) Monsieur, monsieur, if you please. Return me my louis, if you please! I never play a louis that has rolled on the table. That would bring us bad fortune, you would see! Thank you, thank you very much. (To herself again.) I am sorry I did not ask him to hand me back two. We are going to lose! Good heavens! it is sure we lose! Ah, the cards! Bad, that's sure! O, what emotion! O good heavens! Seven! But the bank! No, we gain! O – O good heavens! Good heavens! what emotion! We gain! What a misfortune I didn't leave the extra louis! It is disgusting! I regret it now. O, I regret it very much! But it is always like that with me! Are we going to be paid? I don't think so! No, we won't be paid! It is always like that; when one loses one is taken, and when one wins one is never paid! O good heavens! Now he will pay our side. After all there ought to be enough money. O yes, yes, we will be paid! All the better! Two louis for me if you please, thank you. Monsieur, I am sorry to trouble you to give me my four louis! No, no, you haven't given me enough! I put down two louis. O yes, you are right. Pardon me, I didn't understand; yes, I have four. Thank you very much. You are very kind. (To herself again.) I am paid! After all, I am paid! So much the better! What emotion! I will play two louis again; no, three; no, two; no, one must have courage. Monsieur, if you please, will you have the kindness to place my four louis on the table? Thank you very much! (To herself again.) But, if I lose! and I will lose. Good heavens! O – what emotion! (Etc., etc.)

IIMLLE. NINA

(Young, very beautiful, in an exquisite gown from Laferiere, with gorgeous jewels and a wonderful hat.)

Who is the banker?

MLLE. FIFI

(Equally charming, as magnificently jeweled, and as exquisitely gowned; also a chapeau of wonderful birds, such as never sang in any wood.)

He? He is an old Russian. He has millions and millions, my dear!

MLLE. NINA

(Raising her eyebrows and regarding the banker affectionately.) Really?

MLLE. FIFI

Yes, yes; and he is a perfect gentleman. He gave Lala of the Vaudeville three strings of pearls in two days. He is very generous and altogether nice.

MLLE. NINA

(Jealously.) Do you know him?

MLLE. FIFI

O no, my dear; he is not my style. You know I never like a gentleman who parts his hair on the left side. It's my fad.

MLLE. NINA

(Very pleasantly.) Have you won to-night, dearie?

MLLE. FIFI

Ah, yes, my dear! Think! two thousand francs already!

MLLE. NINA

(Very sweetly, moving away.) So much the better. I've lost like the devil. (She very slowly makes a detour of the table in the direction of the Russian banker. At the same time an elderly gentleman approaches Mlle. Fifi and speaks to her.)

LE MONSIEUR

Good evening, my dear!

MLLE. FIFI

Good evening, my pig of a Prince!

LE MONSIEUR

You have won?

MLLE. FIFI

Oh, but no, my dear! I have lost enormously! It is terrible what I've done! I have lost nearly all I have!

MLLE. NINA

(Who has just arrived behind the banker, leaning over his shoulder and watching him win an enormous coup.) Ah, ha! You see, Monsieur, I bring you good fortune always!

THE BANKER

I didn't know you were behind me, mademoiselle. (He looks up. She smiles sweetly and innocently. He is pleased.)

MLLE. NINA

Oh, yes, for a long time!

THE BANKER

You don't play?

MLLE. NINA

(With a manner altogether modest, and a soft, low voice.) Oh, no; never! I have nothing to risk; besides, it doesn't amuse me very much. I never play.

THE BANKER

Put on that hundred francs just to try your fortune.

MLLE. NINA

(Leaning over, takes the note from the pile.) If you wish it. (She plays and wins; brushes his cheek and shoulder with her arm as she reaches over to take up her money.)

(The play continues.)MLLE. NINA

(Still winning.) You know you are very nice. (She plays again with a note from the banker's pile.)

IIIMRS. HENRY B. GORDING, of Rochester, New York

Do you play?

MRS. WM. H. LANE, of Brooklyn

No, not really. I don't quite approve of it, but I just try my luck once in awhile for amusement.

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

Yes, that's exactly the way I feel. So long as you don't go in for it seriously I don't see any harm.

MRS. WM. H. LANE

And if you stop as soon as you begin to lose.

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

Yes, indeed! Oh my! are you putting one down?

MRS. WM. H. LANE

Yes, I think that man looks lucky over there with the glasses; besides I like him because his wife sits right by him all the evening.

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

(Smiling nervously and fumbling in her glove where she has concealed the money to have it conveniently ready.) Put one down for me, too; will you? (She smiles hysterically.) Dear me, I wonder what my husband would say if he could see me?

MRS. WM. H. LANE

I don't know a single thing about the game; do you?

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

(With two small red spots coming into her cheeks.) Not the slightest. It's finished! I wonder who's won!

MRS. WM. LANE

(After a long excited sigh.) I don't know. I never can tell till I see them either taking up our chips, or else paying us!

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

(Breathlessly.) If I lose, I shall go.

MRS. WM. H. LANE

So shall I! We've won!

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

Ah! – .

MRS. WM. H. LANE

(Looking at least ten years older than she did two minutes before.) No, we've lost!

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

O! – .

MRS. WM. H. LANE

I'm not going. I shall try once more!

MRS. HENRY B. GORDING

So shall I.

MRS. WM. H. LANE

And I don't believe the woman is that man's wife after all. If she had been we wouldn't have lost our dollars!

IVMME. BORTÉ

(Leaning over a man's right shoulder for some gold on the table.) I beg pardon; that is my two louis!

MME. LAUTRE

(Leaning over the man's left shoulder.) But no, madame, it is mine! I put a louis down there!

MME. BORTÉ

No, no! That is where I put mine. Give me my louis!

MME. LAUTRE

But you are wrong, madame; it is my louis, and I shall keep it!

MME. BORTÉ

But no, madame!

MME. LAUTRE

But yes – !

THREE WOMEN BESIDE MME. BORTÉ

Yes, madame is right. She certainly put a louis down there.

THE SAME NUMBER OF WOMEN BESIDE MME. LAUTRE

No, it is the other madame who put the money down there.

A MAN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TABLE

Ssss —

UN MONSIEUR

Oh, the women! the women! – always rowing!

CROUPIER

Make your plays, gentlemen!

MME. LAUTRE AND MME. BORTÉ

(Together; each to her own coterie.) You know perfectly it is my louis; isn't it? Oh, never in my life! Never! never!

(The game continues, and so does the discussion.)

1

The words "and crying" are well scratched over, so he couldn't possibly read them.