Mission to Monte Carlo by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782131014
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd
Published: 2012-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

On leaving the theatre with his party, they inevitably went to the Casino, and walked through the public part into the Salle Touzet, where Craig was hoping he would find the Countess.

Already the room was filled with gamblers and, as his party dispersed to the various different tables, he had a word with the Grand Duke and several other friends before he caught sight of the Countess.

Once again she was spectacular, wearing a gown of peacock blue, which made both her skin and her hair seem dazzling, and ended round her feet in a swirl of feathers.

There was no ornamentation except for one huge aquamarine, hung on a slender chain round her neck.

The effect was sensational and she seemed to stand out even in a room filled with glamorous women as if she was a light in a dark sky.

She was sitting at a table alone with Lord Neasdon and, as might have been expected, he was talking while she listened.

Because Craig thought it was a mistake to approach her too obviously he went to the roulette table nearest to where they were sitting and pretended to watch the gamblers occasionally himself staking on a number.

He kept turning over in his mind the puzzle as to why she was so afraid, but if, as he suspected, she was under orders from the Baron, it was not so surprising.

Because she seemed so fragile and so ethereal, it was somehow impossible to imagine her co-operating with a beast like Baron Strogolof.

Yet there was no doubt that she was spying for the Russians.

If it was the Baron who had taken Randall Sare prisoner, then it was quite obvious that the whole of his problem in Monte Carlo emanated from him.

Like a vast spider, Craig thought, he was spinning his web round those he had captured to entwine them like flies and it would be incredibly difficult for them to escape.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he was suddenly aware that the money he had put on number nine, which was a number he often favoured, had accumulated twice and the croupier was looking at him enquiringly as to whether he would take his gains or let it run for a third time.

Almost as if he asked fortune for a sign as to whether he would win or lose a very much more complicated game than the one in front of him, Craig indicated that his gains were to remain where they were.

The croupier picked up the small round ball, spun it, and called without any expression in his voice,

“Mesdames et messieurs. Rien ne va plus!”

Several greedy hands reached out in a last desperate effort to believe that fate and fortune would smile on them.

Then there was the dull click as the ball came to rest.

The croupier said still in his expressionless tones,

“Neuf, noir et impair,”

Suddenly Craig felt sure he would be successful in the greater issue too.

He picked up what he had won amongst the envious glances of those sitting at the table

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