The Spies of Monte Carlo

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1922, Page 1

The Spies of Monte Carlo

By Andree Viollis. , Monte Curio. |

The first time you go to the Casino here, at Monte Carlo, various scribes posted behind a counter in a. small room near the entrance ask for yoiir papers of identify and fill up a form for you. This proceeding is harmless enough, but wait! Two or three individuals are walking up and down there nonchalantly, their hands behind their hacks. One of them makes some idle remark to you, some innocent joke you turn round and receive full in your face the concentrated glare of two or three stares. Ping! Like that, and the picture is taken. Tf you should not reappear at Monte Carlo for ten years von would l»e recognised and identified. These officials who are known as the ‘‘physiognomists,” have the gift of never iwgotting a face once seen. They are said to receive large salaries. \ friend of mine, who, six months before, had spent but an hour in the casino explained at the barrier that lie had forgotten to bring his card and Lis passport with him. “You are Monsieur X., arc y°» not?” said one of these walking card-; indexes, “and you live in the Rue /. at Nantes? T recognise you. . ! Now go into the sanctuary. Behind the tables stand tall lackne.vs in blue uniforms embroidered with silver, reads- to make friendy answer to any demand for information. But do not trust appearances. I hose splendid puppets, with the bulging white raises, are not meant only tor derogation; these g'asyy eyes ran see, these months, with the fixed smile, ran talk. Each attendant keeps under his personal surveiTlanee one or two of the old habitues of the rooms. Between the tallies move quiet gentlemen .dressed in black, with an air which 'is both nonchalant and aeule. Others, men and women, dressed like you or I, mingle with the groups of players. , . . , Take up your position m front ot the rrohpier; this automaton with the mechanical gestures, svlio, perched up 'on his high stool, scoops in the conn- ' ters with that inexorable rake of Ins gently scraping the green cloth. _ Keep vour gaze on him and from time t* i time you will observe in this wooden fare an nil but imperceptible movement of the eye in the direction of some plnver, who, perhaps, is leaning too far forward on the table. who snatches too promptly at the connteTS. be lias won, or at a face which is too pale, too ravaged or distorted by some nervous trick or other. Behind you. be sure -f it. -oiueoue has noted this movement of the eye. The invisible surveillance is concentrating is drawing in. upon the spot . . ■ Tn the hubbub of the crowd, the turmoil of the swarms which gather and disperse again, one does not eaten * brief dialogue in undertones or note the swift exit of two persons which marks the removal of a. broken gambler or a delinquent. ■ Behind the scenes nt Monte Gallo . ! permanent court, with judges, witness--1 os. and advocates, is in session The kindly president will advise the despairing gambler to leave Monte Carlo ml return home; will add maybe, w me philosophical reflections upon the instahilitv of Fortune, her inconstancy and her fashion of coming bock. ' 'Still bettor, if tlio pi'isoer at the bar I is absolutely at the end of Ins resources motiev to pay his hotel bill and h s ticket koine will he advanced to him; but be cannot return to tbo casino until lie lias discharged his debt to the authorities. , ... . As for the delinquent lie will he punished more or less severely, hut a - i wavs with the same penalty, expul- ! sioii from the rooms—for ever, for ten vears. for five, for <>m*.