Page 39 of Dimistrios's Bought Mistress
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Lycos assured her.
She was still looking at him. ‘Did that man say he was inviting you to some kind of gambling session?’
‘A private party, yes. Unless he can find a gaming club that is still operating.’
Arielle frowned. Lycos explained.
‘Paris banned casinos in the nineteenth century,’ he said. ‘The authorities were concerned that workers would waste their wages. There are no casinos within a hundred kilometres of the city. A few gaming clubs were permitted, but even those are being banned. It’s a controversial issue.’
‘You’re on the side of the casinos and clubs, I take it?’ Arielle’s voice was expressionless. It made Lycos frown.
‘Arielle, I no longer rely on gambling to make money. Didn’t our dinner with Marc Derenz demonstrate that?’ He paused a moment. He wanted her to understand this. ‘I’m not an addict, Arielle. Nor am I a professional. That’s a whole different ball game, with international rankings, competitions and so on. Gambling to me was, and still is, simply a way of making money by using skills I happen to possess and which I have honed to a high degree by my own experience. If I’d been good at any other way of making money, I’d have followed that. Gambling, cards, is just a means to an end, that’s all. It’s not important to me for its own sake.’
She looked at him. Her expression was strange. ‘Do you mean that, Lycos?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because today is the first time I’ve come face to face with it, I suppose. These people here, you seem to know them because of gambling. It’s…it’s a side of you I haven’t seen till now.’
He made to speak, but the thunder of approaching hooves made it impossible. For a handful of seconds there was nothing but the sight of the horses pounding past, a rush of air and the noise of drumming hooves.
When all that subsided, the moment was gone and he realised that Paul was approaching them, together with Natalie and the others in the party.
‘My horse is running next,’ Paul announced. He indicated a name on the list for the next race on the card. ‘Wish me luck. I’ve placed a large bet on it. Plus the prize money is handsome. My trainer and jockey know they need to win for me.’
The announcement of the results of the race that had just gone by were made as the horses for the next race lined up.
Lycos made a polite show of interest but it was all over in minutes and Paul’s horse was unplaced.
‘Well, he’s enjoyed his last helping of oats,’ Paul said, tearing up his betting slip and dropping the shards on the ground.
‘What’s going to happen to him?’ Arielle’s voice was sharp.
Paul cast her a cynical glance. ‘He’ll be destroyed. I don’t keep horses that don’t earn their keep. This race was his last chance. He cost me a lot of money in the bet I placed. Plus he won me no prize money.’
‘You’re going to kill him because he’s lost you money?’ Arielle protested.
‘That,mademoiselle,is the name of the game,’ Paul replied patronisingly.
Lycos felt Arielle clutch his sleeve as she turned to him.
‘Lycos, please, offer to buy him!’
Arielle then turned to Paul.
‘Or you could just give him to Lycos for free. After all, it would save you the vet fees for putting him down!’ she said witheringly.
Paul gave a short laugh. ‘Well, Lycos. Are you going to indulge your animal-loving lady? Start a rescue centre for endangered racehorses?’ His words were mocking.
Lycos ignored him. He peeled Arielle’s hand off his sleeve. ‘It isn’t practical,’ he told her.
She stared at him.
‘Arielle, no.’ His voice was flat. ‘It’s out of the question.’
For a moment she just went on staring at him. Then, abruptly, her gaze dropped and she looked away out over the now-deserted racecourse. Another race was being lined up, but that was of no interest to Paul, who had no money in it, and he ushered his party back to their table. A cold collation had been set out and more champagne provided.
‘Commiserations instead of congratulations,’ Paul intoned ponderously. ‘Ah well, I have more horses to race another time.’
