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oldest magistrate in the parliament of Bordeaus； and one who
passed for the wisest； was not ashamed to stake all his property
one night at play； and that too； he adds； without risking his
reputationso general was the fury of gambling。 It became very
soon mixed up with the most momentous circumstances of life and
affairs of the gravest importance。 The States…general； or
parliamentary assemblies； consisted altogether of gamblers。 ‘It
is a game；' says Madame de Sevigne； ‘it is an entertainment； a
liberty…hall day and night； attracting all the world。 I never
before beheld the States…general of Bretagne。 The States…general
are decidedly a very fine thing。'
The same delightful correspondent relates that one of her
amusements when she went to the court was to admire Dangeau at
the card…table； and the following is the account of a gaming
party at which she was present：
‘29th July； 1676。
‘I went on Saturday with Villars to Versailles。 I need not tell
you of the queen's toilette； the mass； the dinneryou know it
all； but at three o'clock the king rose from table； and he； the
queen； Monsieur； Madame； Mademoiselle； all the princes and
princesses； Madame de Montespan； all her suite； all the
courtiers； all the ladies； in short； what we call the court of
France； were assembled in that beautiful apartment which you
know。 It is divinely furnished； everything is magnificent； one
does not know what it is to be too hot； we walk about here and
there； and are not incommoded anywhere：at last a table of
reversi＇53＇ gives a form to the crowd； and a place to every one。
_THE KING IS NEXT TO MADAME DE MONTESPAN_； who deals； the Duke
of Orleans； the queen； and Madame de Soubise； Dangeau and Co。；
Langee and Co。； a thousand louis are poured out on the cloth
there are no other counters。 I saw Dangeau play！what fools we
all are compared to himhe minds nothing but his business； and
wins when every one else loses： he neglects nothing； takes
advantage of everything； is never absent； in a word； his skill
defies fortune； and accordingly 200；000 francs in ten days；
100；000 crowns in a fortnight； all go to his receipt book。
＇53＇ A kind of game long since out of fashion； and now almost
forgotten； it seems to have been a compound of Loo and Commerce
the _Quinola_ or _Pam_ was the knave of hearts。
‘He was so good as to say I was a partner in his play； by
which I got a very convenient and agreeable place。 I saluted the
king in the way you taught me； which he returned as if I had been
young and handsomeI received a thousand complimentsyou know
what it is to have a word from everybody！ This agreeable
confusion without confusion lasts from three o'clock till six。
If a courtier arrives； the king retires for a moment to read his
letters； and returns immediately。 There is always some music
going on； which has a very good effect； the king listens to the
music and chats to the ladies about him。 At last； at six
o'clock； they stop playingthey have no trouble in settling
their reckoningsthere are no countersthe lowest pools are
five； six； seven hundred louis； the great ones a thousand； or
twelve hundred； they put in five each at first； that makes one
hundred； and the dealer puts in ten morethen they give four
louis each to whoever has Quinolasome pass； others play； but
when you play without winning the pool； you must put in sixteen
to teach you how to play rashly： they talk all together； and for
ever； and of everything。 〃How many hearts？〃 〃Two！〃 〃I
have three！〃 〃I have one！〃 〃I have four！〃 〃He has
only three！〃 and Dangeau； delighted with all this prattle； turns
up the trump； makes his calculations； sees whom he has against
him； in shortin short； I was glad to see such an excess of
skill。 He it is who really knows 〃le dessous des cartes。〃
‘At ten o'clock they get into their carriages： _THE KING； MADAME
DE MONTESPAN_； the Duke of Orleans； and Madame de Thianges； and
the good Hendicourt on the dickey； that is as if one were in the
upper gallery。 You know how these calashes are made。
‘The queen was in another with the princesses； and then everybody
else； grouped as they liked。 Then they go on the water in
gondolas； with music； they return at ten； the play is ready； it
is over； twelve strikes； supper is brought in； and so passes
Saturday。'
This lively picture of such frightful gambling； of the adulterous
triumph of Madame de Montespan； and of the humiliating part to
which the queen was condemned； will induce our readers to concur
with Madame de Sevigne； who； amused as she had been by the scene
she has described； calls it nevertheless； with her usual pure
taste and good judgment； _l'iniqua corte_； ‘the iniquitous
court。'
Indeed； Madame de Sevigne had ample reason to denounce this
source of her domestic misery。 Writing to her son and daughter；
she says：‘You lose all you play for。 You have paid five or six
thousand francs for your amusement； and to be abused by fortune。'
If she had at first been fascinated by the spectacle which she so
glowingly describes； the interest of her children soon opened her
eyes to the yawning gulf at the brink of the flowery surface。
Sometimes she explains herself plainly：‘You believe that
everybody plays as honestly as yourself？ Call to mind what took
place lately at the Hotel de la Vieuville。 Do you remember
that _ROBBERY？_'
The favour of that court； so much coveted； seemed to her to be
purchased at too high a price if it was to be gained by ruinous
complaisances。 She trembled every time her son left her to go to
Versailles。 She says：‘He tells me he is going to play with his
young master；＇54＇ I shudder at the thought。 Four hundred
pistoles are very easily lost： _ce n'est rien pour Admete et
c'est beaucoup pour lui_。＇55＇ If Dangeau is in the game he
will win all the pools： he is an eagle。 Then will come to pass；
my daughter； all that God may vouchsafe_il en arivera； ma
fille； tout ce qu'il plaira a Dieu_。'
＇54＇ The Dauphin。
＇55＇ ‘It is nothing for Admetus； but 'tis much for him。'
And again； ‘The game of _Hoca_ is prohibited at Paris _UNDER THE
PENALTY OF DEATH_； and yet it is played at court。 Five thousand
pistoles before dinner is nothing。 That game is a regular cut…
throat。'
Hoca was prodigiously unfavourable to the players； the latter had
only twenty…eight chances against thirty。 In the seventeenth
century this game caused such disorder at Rome that the Pope
prohibited it and expelled the bankers。
The Italians whom Mazarin brought into France obtained from the
king permission to set up _Hoca_ tables in Paris。 The parliament
launched two edicts against them； and threatened to punish them
severely。 The king's edicts were equally severe。 Every of
offender was to be fined 1000 livres； and the person in whose
house Faro； Basset； or any such game was suffered； incurred the
penalty of 6000 livres for each offenc