Florac owned that Fortune had been very unkind to him at
Baden; and, indeed, she had not only emptied his purse, but his
portmanteaus, jewel-box, and linen-closet--the contents of all of which
had ranged themselves on the red and black against Monsieur Benazet's
crown-pieces: whatever side they took was, however, the unlucky one.
"This campaign has been my Moscow, mon cher," Florac owned to Clive. "I
am conquered by Benazet; I have lost in almost every combat. I have lost
my treasure, my baggage, my ammunition of war, everything but my honour,
which, au reste, Mons. Benazet will not accept as a stake; if he
would, there are plenty here, believe me, who would set it on the
trente-et-quarante. Sometimes I have had a mind to go home; my mother,
who is an angel all forgiveness, would receive her prodigal, and kill the
fatted veal for me. But what will you? He annoys me--the domestic veal.
Besides, my brother the Abbe, though the best of Christians, is a Jew
upon certain matters; a Benazet who will not troquer absolution except
against repentance; and I have not for a sou of repentance in my pocket!
I have been sorry, yes--but it was because odd came up in place of even,
or the reverse.
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