408 
and half red. The space remaining 
outside these rows, and the edges of 
the table, is parted, for stakes also, 
into sections, marked—Red and Black, 
—Odd and Even,—Missed and Pass- 
ed. ‘The whole is conducted by six 
persons, called bankers; two sit on 
each sideof the cross,—one to spin it, 
the other to draw in with a crook, and 
pay, the moneys: each of these is re- 
lieved, after a while, by his fellow on 
the opposite side; and the fifth and 
sixth are at the top and bottom of the 
table, to distribute the payments as 
they are tossed down from the bank, 
and keep the surface orderly. 
Just as I took my stand, a banker 
exclaimed, ‘Gentlemen, settle your 
play ;” and atthese words he threw in 
the fatal ball of ivory ; then struck the 
cross into quick rotation on its pivot, 
and in the instant all became eager 
look and silent anxiety. By degrees 
the cross exhausted the force, it had 
received, the ball went on Fromm 
slower, the hum of its rd unds 
feebler; every eye was” Fiven ‘ae 
to a stare; it ceased to be heard, 
the banker cried, “‘21—Red—Odd— 
Passed.” Any stakes on that number, 
and the sections proclaimed, won ; all 
the rest lost. Payment was made in 
a moment, and the losses drawn in 
without a word. 
The many ways in which avaricious 
hope may be excited, and money ha- 
zarded, at this table, constitute the 
great attraction of Roulette. Indeed 
so strong and seductive did it appear 
to me, as I looked into the faces 
around me, and contemplated many a 
deep expression here of the interest it 
excited, there of the vanity it flattered; 
and saw speculation after speculation 
created as more secure, and still more 
certain; I less wondered to count the 
thickness. of the urgent throng busy 
before me, with its delusions, than 
was surprised to learn that, with 
a temptation so specious ever in 
their sight, many lived who never 
had risked a frane upon the cloth. 
If a player put money upon a single 
number, and it happen to prove lucky, 
he is paid thirty-six times the sum he 
deposited; if on two numbers toge- 
ther, and one of them be fortunate, 
eighteen times the stake; nine times 
if “he succeed on one of four, and six 
times if he win one of six. He may 
play upon the numbers of a row, and 
by the declaration of one of them dou- 
ble what he staked; he may even 
1 
Notes during a Visit to Paris. 
[Dec. 1, 
choose two rows, and the winning 
number in them, get half what he 
placed on them. Then come the 
ehances: Red and Black—Odd and 
Even—Missed, which includes the 
eighteen first, and Passed the eighteen 
last numbers; upon these the event of 
success doubles the stake. As well as 
the numbers, I observed the’ cypher 
and double cypher open for stakes, 
and similarly paid; so that, but for 
this difference, the game would pre- 
sent equal fortune to the player and 
the bank: as it is, they make the odds 
twenty in its favour to eighteen 
against it. 
The sums risked varied considerably 
from a piece of thirty sous,—the lowest 
the administration -receive,—to many 
more napoleons than, from their ap- 
pearance, I had supposed the parties 
could sport. The larger proportion 
seemed, without much thought, to 
make a single stake upon a single ha- 
zard: at times, too, I had to smile with 
these ; as one of them would heartily. 
rub his hands, and brighten his eyes, 
in agreeable surprise, at the success 
of inconsideration; but always, and 
immediately afterwards, I was sure to 
catch the desponding looks 6f others, 
who by the same means became mere- 
ly spectators of what they were lately 
possessors of. Some there were who 
took various chances at a time, depo- 
sited different sums upon them, and 
had the air of proceeding upon a cal- 
culation of probabilities: how often 
they found their notion of them most 
improbable ! 
There, the wrinkled measures of 
age trebled on his brow by the contor- 
tions of his profound consideration, 
sat a man of simple physiognomy and 
humble appearance. He seemed, as 
he ought to be, lost in the revery; for 
he studied to subject chance to caleu- 
lation. At last he fancies his point is 
arrived; in a moment his stake is on 
the happy section, in another it is 
lost, and he looks stupified at the re- 
sult, scratches his puzzled head as the 
banker withdraws his coin; but then 
soon gives inferences, by a satisfactory 
nod, that he has discovered an error, 
which accounts for all. He restimes 
his meditative labour ; again the sup- 
posed moment of favour arrives: he 
stakes again, again loses, and ex- 
claims, with an oath, that he cannot 
account for the thing. Still, while his 
leathern purse contains a fraction, he 
trusts for a better hour, and continues, 
turn 
