ROUGE ET NOIR 77 



the past and present century, which have been and are 

 justly denominated a pandemonium. On looking round, 

 I thouo;ht I could reco^rnize one, two or more faces. 

 Indeed, one in particular, whose services had gained him 

 rank and distinction in the i^avy, I could not mistake, 

 from the very peculiar expression of countenance an un- 

 fortunate imperfection of speech gave him. He and 

 many others I could see intent upon the game, their 

 features contracting in frowns or expanding in smiles as 

 their different chances came off. My companion soon 

 obtained a seat, and every now and then I could see 

 his one eye turned up to the ceiling as if asking there for 

 information upon what colour he should deposit his 

 chance. 



" Make your game, make your game, Gentlemen," Avas 

 intermittently reiterated by the venerable dealer and his 

 associate ; and urged by the nods and gesticulations of 

 my introducer, and imbibing at the same time the general 

 infatuation, I ventured to throw a half-crown on the 

 table — the lowest sum the rules of the room admitted. 

 The game was made and the cards were dealt. I scarcely 

 regarded the issue, my eyes wandering round the crowded 

 room, and my mind wrapt in contemplating so novel 

 a scene, consequently I did not take any money up. The 

 game was made time after time, till the spot where 

 I had deposited my half-crown was covered with notes — 

 the venerable gentleman looking at me very hard every 

 time he doubled the heap. All eyes were turned on me, till 

 the dealer stopped and asked whose money that was, as the 

 stake, as they termed it, exceeded their limit, that is £ 1 00, 

 when my friend Monops exclaimed, " Why don't you take 



