Curiosities of Legal Experience. 497 



gaiters, black cravat, &c. Not likely to be known there ; but perhaps 

 it is as well. 



Oct. 10. P. M. Allons, mes braves. In vino veritas ; the respectable- 

 looking gentleman can match Brown in licentiousness. " Go up, 

 thou bald-head, go." 



*,*#* ****** 



Felt some trepidation on entering the Hell in Street : omne 



ignotum pro horrifico. Brown said it was but a second-rate place,, 

 yet every thing seemed done in good style ; rooms large and well 

 lighted, side-board loaded with plate, and tables with notes and 

 gold. Mr. S. was not there. 



On surveying the company I was surprised at the number with 

 moustaches ; some of them I thought looked very hard at me. Gam- 

 ing is a monotonous affair to a spectator ; Roulette and Hazard were 

 played, and Brown's friend tried his luck at the former. Several of 

 those who sat round the table seemed to do nothing but prick cards, 

 which Brown said was to note the chances, in order to guess which 

 way the tide of luck was setting ; and then he explained to me his 

 plan of staking-. Whenever a colour or a number turned up twelve 

 times consecutively, he betted on the opposite ; and, if he lost, he went 

 on doubling on the same colour or number as far as his purse would 

 let him. He declares that a man must win who has the coolness 

 never to play except under these circumstances. Unluckily he had 

 not the requisite coolness, and his losses have reduced him almost to 

 beggary ; but he insisted on it that his plan was a good one. 



Mr. S. now came in. Our meeting was stiff and cold; but he 

 listened politely, while I opened the business; and his manner was so 

 remarkably mild and easy that I could scarcely believe him guilty 

 of the cruelty and violence laid to his charge. At first he declined 

 entering into any compromise, declaring that Mrs. S. had left him 

 without any cause except her unwillingness to share his embarrass- 

 ments ; but a hint of legal proceedings, and probably the firmness 

 with which she had hitherto resisted his threats, brought him at length 

 to terms ; and he finally agreed to leave her undisturbed and the 

 children with her, on receiving half her separate income (600 a 

 year). I produced a bond for his signature, and desired Brown and 

 his friend to witness it. The latter came from the tables in his usual 

 easy manner, apparently quite composed ; but as I stood beside him, 

 it struck me he was muttering to himself, and, on listening, I was 

 horror-struck to hear him \enting a string of fearful imprecations, 

 like a maniac's incoherent curses. 



Business being over, and all papers snug in my pocket-book, I got 

 Brown to chaperone me round the saloon. I do not know whether 

 it is fancy ; but there seems to be something peculiar in a gamester's 

 yes, a fixed opaque look, as if the back of them was silvered like a 

 mirror, and reflected your glance instead of showing the owner's 

 feelings. There that man stands, no doubt, still whispering curses 

 just to lullaby the devil within ; it is really horrible. A few pounds 

 will not signify, I must ask him to play for me. A bow and a smile, 

 as if he were utterly indifferent! " If you put down on such a square, 

 you win treble the stake : round the ball spins one way, and the 



MAY, 1837. 2 K 



