They started together, Mr. Palliser with his wife, and Mr. Grey with Alice on his arm, and found all the tables at work. They at first walked through the different rooms, whispering to each other their comments on the people that they saw, and listening to the quick, low, monotonous words of the croupiers as they arranged and presided over the games. Each table was closely surrounded by its own crowd, made up of players, embryo players, and simple lookers-on, so that they could not see much as they walked. But this was not enough for Lady Glencora. She was anxious to know what these men and women were doing,--to see whether the croupiers wore horns on their heads and were devils indeed,--to behold the faces of those who were wretched and of those who were triumphant,--to know how the thing was done, and to learn something of that lesson in life. "Let us stand here a moment," she said to her husband, arresting him at one corner of the table which had the greatest crowd. "We shall be able to see in a few minutes." So he stood with her there, giving way to Alice, who went in front with his wife; and in a minute or two an aperture was made, so that they could all see the marked cloth, and the money lying about, and the rakes on the table, and the croupier skilfully dealing his cards, and,--more interesting than all the rest, the faces of those who were playing. Grey looked on, over Alice's shoulder, very attentively,--as did Palliser also,--but both of them kept their eyes upon the ministers of the work. Alice and Glencora did the same at first, but as they gained courage they glanced round upon the gamblers.

They went in together, Mr. Palliser with his wife, and Mr. Grey with Alice on his arm, and walked through the different rooms, whispering to each other their comments on the people that they saw, and listening to the quick, low words of the croupiers as they presided over the games. Each table was closely surrounded by its own crowd.
"Let us stand here a moment," said Lady Glencora to her husband, halting at a corner of the table which had the greatest crowd. "We shall be able to see in a few minutes."
So they stood there, and in a minute or two an opening was made in the crowd, so that they could all see money lying about, and the rakes on the table, and the croupier skilfully dealing his cards, and - more interesting than all the rest - the faces of those who were playing. Grey and Palliser watched the croupiers; but Alice and Glencora glanced round upon the gamblers.
