The Gambler — Chapter XI

The Grandmother is wheeled from the tables amid astonishment and praise. She counts about thirteen thousand florins, tips servants and beggars freely, promises dresses to Martha, Theodosia, and Mlle. Blanche, and pointedly tells the General he will receive nothing. She urges Alexis Ivanovitch to stake on zero, even offering him five hundred gulden.

De Griers and Mlle. Blanche warn that a change of luck could ruin her, but the Grandmother dismisses them, intent on returning after lunch. At the hotel she boasts of her winnings, distributes more money, orders luncheon, and sets four o’clock to go back to the Casino. Alexis reflects that her arrival has shattered the conspirators’ plans and that her fixed refusal to fund the General spells danger for them.

On the stairs, Polina Alexandrovna abruptly gives Alexis a letter for Mr. Astley. He hunts Astley down among English riders and delivers it, then returns to the hotel, where he is summoned to the General. There, the General, De Griers, and Mlle. Blanche—agitated and calculating—beg Alexis to divert the Grandmother from gambling to protect their expected inheritance and cover the General’s debts.

Alexis asks how he can help and suggests De Griers might succeed later, which draws charged glances between De Griers and Mlle. Blanche. Their plea is cut short by a summons: the Grandmother, unable to wait, calls for Alexis and orders her chair. The chapter ends with her setting out again for the roulette salons.