296 GAMBLING. 



word, except, perhaps, as to the name of 

 a coach that might be passing us, till pre- 

 sently in a street leading out of, or 

 adjoining St. James' Square, we came to 

 a house with the door wide open, but 

 with an inner door closed, in the upper 

 part of which was a strong light, that 

 enabled a person inside to perceive who 

 was coming. My companion knocked, and 

 the door was partially and cautiously 

 opened. A glance at me, and a question 

 to my guide, were sufficient ; we were 

 admitted, and I began slowly to ascend 

 the stairs. 



I had scarcely time to consider, or 

 ask my conductor the nature of the 

 house to which he had brought me, 

 when at the top we entered through a 

 pair of folding doors a large parlour or 

 saloon, full of well-dressed people, some 

 seated round a large table, others standing, 

 but most, if not all, silently and seriously 



