78 GAINS 



your money up, young man ? " Not a little disconcerted 

 by this polite admonition, at the same time flushed with 

 joy at so unexpected an acquisition of fortune, I managed 

 to retain suflicient self-possession to reach over, for T had 

 not been seated, grasp the notes with one hand, and put 

 up the half-crowns that lay under them with the other, 

 and thrust both indiscriminately into my breeches 

 pocket. 



After some little time my friend and I retired, and, 

 entering an hotel in the Haymarket, I proceeded to count 

 my gains, which amounted to £127 17.^. Qd. We then 

 regaled ourselves with some lobster salad and other 

 delicacies, I of course standing treat ; but this was not 

 attended with any considerable expense, as since his 

 accident my friend Monops had never drunk anything 

 stronger than tea, of which he imbibed a large quantity, 

 and always had a great objection to make what he termed 

 a hog-tub of his internals. Upon my asking him how 

 it was that I had been so successful, or how he could 

 account for my good fortune — " A run upon red, young 

 man," Avas all I got in reply ; and, with a little further 

 comment on the evening's occurrence, we retired to our 

 respective domiciles. 



Waking in the morning, and recalling Avhat had passed, 

 I certainly did not repent of the adventure, and I do not 

 pretend to be an exception to those who are seduced by 

 the first favours of the strumpet Fortune ; but I did not^ 

 like the generality of unfortunate youths wdio are first 

 entrapped into those dens of iniquity, endeavour immedi- 

 ately to follow up my success ; indeed, I could not class 

 myself as such, for I had nothing to lose except what they 



