
Produced by Tapio Riikonen
OLLI KARILA
The story opens in a dazzling casino where marble walls, electric lights, and the relentless spin of roulette wheels create a feverish backdrop of wealth and risk. Among the glittering tables, a parade of aristocrats, officers, and hopeful gamblers chase fortunes, their faces flushed with anticipation or the sting of loss. Overseeing the chaos from a lofty chair sits the enigmatic Grand Prince Ivan Ivanovich, his composure unshaken even as the dice fall against him.
Beside the prince, his confidant Matvei Matvejevich watches with a growing mix of frustration and reluctant loyalty. The prince’s continual betting drains not only his own purse but also the hopes of those who depend on his winnings, leaving Matvei to wrestle with quiet resentment and a sense of duty. As the night wears on, their uneasy partnership hints at deeper entanglements—political intrigue, personal sacrifice, and a journey that will test the limits of friendship and ambition.
Language
fi
Duration
~5 hours (300K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2018-06-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1897–1936
A Finnish writer whose short life still produced a memorable run of adventure and espionage fiction, with stories shaped by the tense political mood of the early 20th century. His novels are known for fast-moving plots, danger, and secret schemes.
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