A Sportsman at Large 187 



the problem of constant and certain gain on the tables, that 

 we decided to throw our winnings into capital and recommence 

 with a louis unit. 



Fancy (poor innocent and ignorant lads that we were) 

 our thinking to " break the Bank " by means of " The Devil's 

 Martingale ! " the most dangerous and hopeless of all the 

 fatuous systems that ever have been exploited at Monte Carlo 

 or any other gambling establishment. Well, we were soon 

 undeceived. 



" The third night came a frost a killing frost, 

 And when we thought good easy lads, 

 Our riches were up-mounting nipped our hopes 

 And then we fell like others. We had ventured 

 To trust a system which proved but a bladder, 

 Till far beyond our depths, our high-blown pride 

 At length broke under us, and thus it left us 

 Weary and broke to worlds that would not hold us, 

 Vain pomp and glory of the Rooms we hate ye ! " 



(With apologies to one William Shakespeare.) 



A run of ten particularly sombre blacks put " paid " to our 

 account and we left the precincts with our figurative tails 

 between our legs, and harbouring thoughts of suicide or the 

 viatique. 



But we had had a very fair run, and lots of excitement, for 

 our money. 



At any rate, we received better value for our outlay than 

 had two young guardsmen whom I marked some years later. 

 They were complete novices, and apparently wanted to cut 

 a dash on the occasion of their first visit to " The Rooms." 

 To this end they contrived a sort of confidence trick. 



Said one to the other : 



" I say, Algy, old sport. Let's surprise the natives ! Run 

 along and put a ' mille ' note on black the other side of the 

 cylinder, and I will plank a like bit of dough on red, on this 

 section. It will give the jolly old croupiers confidence that 

 we are men of substance." 

 Algy did as bidden. 



Unfortunately for the youthful chasers of the bubble- 

 reputation, Zero turned up, so that they lost fifty per cent, 

 of their stake, and slunk off poorer, if wiser, lads ! 



Since my first visit to " Monte," I have haunted that 



