1831.] Recollections of Scenes and Cities, 167 



Something — I forget what — had depressed rae ; and by way of ex- 

 citement, I strolled up the Boulevard Italienne^ turned into the Rue de 

 Richelieu, and then into the Coui-t of Frescatis. It was about ten o'clock, 

 a rainy night, and the court was only lighted by the lamps placed under 

 the arcade. The plashing of the rain prevented my footsteps from being 

 heard ; and just as I was about to enter the arcade, I saw a young man, 

 with whose countenance and name I was not unacquainted, come down 

 the stair, and pausing under the porch, he emptied his pockets, and 

 counted his money. He stood for a few moments irresolute ; he had 

 evidently been a gainer ; and was debating with himself, whether he 

 ought to be contented, or might not, by following up his good fortune, 

 perhaps double his gains. The love of excitement prevailed (for I be- 

 lieve it is seldom that the gamblfer is incited by love of money) and he 

 retraced his steps up stairs ; I followed, and entered the room after him. 

 A gambling table is a strange picture of human character, and it is 

 a curious fact that the real anxiety of players is in inverse ratio to the 

 apparent interest they shew in the game. He who sits still, and keeps 

 his eyes upon the dealei", to see the fate of his stake, is less agitated, 

 less anxious than him who affects to have his attention otherwise occu- 

 pied while the cards are dealing, and seems only to have his attention 

 called by the final announcement. He again is calm in mind, compared 

 Avith the player who cannot remain upon his seat, but who, throwing 

 down his stake with seeming unconcern, leaves the room, and only re- 

 turns to see whether it be doubled, or swept away. But to return — my 

 young friend, for such I may call him, again played eagerly with various 

 success — but at length lost his last piece. He asked a loan from the 

 man, who, with powdered hair and hands behind his back, stands at the 

 window ready to advance money to those whom he knows, but being 

 unacquainted with this young man, the loan was refused — and he walked 

 into the garden. I followed him down the dark walk to the lamp at the 

 farther end. I saw him lean for a moment against the wall, and he then 

 drew a pen-knife from his pocket, and was about to open it when I 

 started forward. " ]\Ir. L." I said. 



" Ah ! " said he, suddenly putting the knife in his pocket ; " I did not 

 see you in tlie room." " Upon one condition," said I, " I will lend you 

 five hundred francs." He sat down at the foot of the wall and burst 



into tears. " R '' said he, after a few moments, " you have saved 



me from self-murder ; ten days ago my father gave me a hundred pounds 

 to come here to pay my medical classes, and to maintain me for four 

 months. I have gambled it all away in two nights — I have not a sous 

 left, and I had resolved " 



" No matter what you resolved," said I, " here are five hundred 

 francs upon condition — that whether you win or lose them, I shall be 

 your banker while you remain in Paris." I knew that to have en- 

 deavoured to exact a promise, without giving myself a title to ex- 

 act it, would have been useless ; for the gambler, however he may curse 

 fortune or upbraid himself, never fails to imagine that one stake more 



would have retrieved his losses. L gave me the promise I required, 



and we returned to the room. He threw down his bill upon the red, 



saying " la vtoilir ;" the black came up, and L was now worth only 



twelve louis and a half. We passed into the other room, the ball on 

 the roulette-table had just rested in No. 30. " Messieurs Jailez vos jeux," 

 said the man ; the ball was whirled round, and L clapped down liis 



