CHAPTER XXVI 



PARISIAN GAMBLING CLUBS 



Attraction of the Capucines — John \V. Gates' Open Banks — Jenks' 

 Whims — A Prussian Gourmet — Raising the Wind on Sunday 



I WAS a member of nearly all the tripots (gambling 

 houses), including the Cercle des Capucines and the 

 Cercle de I'Escrime. Really, to a man who is only a 

 mild gambler, they were all great value ; in fact, they 

 dispensed hospitality. There was no distinction made in 

 the politeness shown towards the big man and the lesser 

 punter. I wonder where in the world a dinner such as 

 served at the Capucines could be found for four francs 

 — every variety of plats with a large bottle of good 

 Bordeaux or fine Burgundy, and more if that were 

 not enough. Then there were excellent club rooms 

 right apart from the salle de jeu. In my time at the 

 Capucines the biggest gambler I saw was the late 

 John W. Gates, the American millionaire, who was 

 associated with Drake in Royal Flush, the winner of 

 the Stewards' Cup in 1900. Incidentally, that was one of 

 the best-arranged coups there had been for many years, 

 on account of the money averaging so well. Royal 

 Flush started at eleven and two and Gates and Drake 

 won one hundred thousand pounds. 



John W. Gates would come into the Capucines in 

 the evening and the fact was immediately telephoned 

 all round the city, and punters would roll up by the 

 dozen. Gates gave an open bank — that is, there was 

 no fixed sum in the bank, and any stake was '* on." 

 A most courageous personality. At intervals he would 



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