The Gambler

The General is a compulsive gambler and owes a large sum of money to the Marquis. Polina asked Alexei to pawn her jewellery so that she might pay off the debts, but he tells her that he has lost everything. The General enters with his mistress, the much younger Blanche, the Englishman Mr. Astley, and the coldly shrewd Marquis, who is supplying loans to the General at exorbitant rates. Blanche questions Alexei about his losses, but he protects Polina and claims that it was his own money, saved from his salary. The General receives a telegram from Polina’s grandmother in Moscow. He is waiting for the old woman to die so he can inherit her money and pay off his debts. He leaves with the others to reply to the telegram.

Polina is annoyed that she cannot repay her debts to the Marquis since Alexei has lost her money. When Alexei insists that he loves her, she asks him to prove it by doing her bidding and insulting a German Baroness, who is strolling nearby with her husband. Alexei does as he is told, provoking the Baron’s anger and causing a scene.

ACT II

The General reprimands Alexei for his behaviour and relieves him of his tutorial duties. Alexei announces that he will challenge the Baron to a duel. The General, wanting to avoid a scandal, in case it might jeopardise his chances of marrying Blanche, asks for the Marquis’s help in dealing with his former employee. Astley also explains that the wedding cannot take place until the General receives his inheritance from Grammy.

In an attempt to control Alexei’s behaviour the Marquis tries to reason with him, but he won’t listen. The Marquis produces a note, supposedly written by Polina, telling Alexei to stop acting like a schoolboy. Alexei storms out accusing the Marquis of having forced Polina to write the note. The General enters with Blanche, asking if the Marquis had any luck with Alexei. The Marquis, lying, says yes and shifts the conversation to Grammy’s health. As soon as the General predicts her imminent death, they hear the old lady’s voice. She has recovered and arrived at the hotel, announcing that she is looking forward to gambling. Blanche suspects the General of false promises, while the Marquis hopes that his usual deceit will be sufficient to deal with the situation.

ACT III

Grandma has been losing large amounts at the gambling table. The General frantically tries to stop her, and when he learns that her losses have increased, he panics and calls the police. Blanche abandons him and leaves with another man, Prince Nilsky. Alexei reflects on the fate of his former employer’s family: only his love for Polina still connects him to them. Polina appears, and Alexei gets her to admit the Marquis’s dishonourable behaviour toward her. They are interrupted by Grammy. Having spent all the money she brought, she wants to return to Moscow and invites Polina to accompany her, but she says she cannot leave just yet. When Grammy is gone, the General returns. He has lost Blanche and is financially ruined.

ACT IV

Alexei finds Polina waiting in his hotel room. She is desperate and, for the first time, admits the nature of her relationship with the Marquis, who has abandoned her and is pressing her to repay the money she owes him. Alexei, thrilled that Polina has turned to him for help, runs off to win her money back.

In the casino, Alexei joins a group of veteran gamblers and wins again and again, finally breaking the bank. He returns triumphant with his winnings and offers Polina the sum she needs. She rejects it, seeing in his gesture not kindness but another humiliation, as though he too wished to buy her. Hope for a happy ending quickly fades away. She throws the money in his face and flees. Alexei is left alone, dementedly recalling his good fortune at the roulette table and the winning streak of red.