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alluded to。
Two witnesses were called； who gave evidence which was
damaging to the character of Ford； stating that he told them he
was in a conspiracy against O'Mara and some other moneyed men；
from whom they should get three or four hundred pounds； and if
witness would conceal from O'Mara his （Ford's） real name； he
should have his share of the money； and might go with him and
Wright to Brussels。
After hearing these witnesses； Mr Sergeant Runnington； without
calling on Mr Adolphus for any further defence of his client；
pronounced the judgment of the Bench。
He reviewed the transaction from its commencement； and stated the
impression； to the disadvantage of O'Mara； which the tale
originally told by the two witnesses was calculated to make。
But； on hearing the cross…examination of those witnesses； and
seeing no evidence against the defendant but from sources so
impure and corruptrecollecting the severe penalties of the
Vagrant Acts； and sitting there not merely as a judge； but also
exercising the functions of a jury； he could not bring himself to
convict on such evidence。 The witnesses； impure as they were；
were _NOT SUPPORTED BY MR MACKENZIE IN ANY PARTICULAR_；
except the fact of his losing money； at a time when O'Mara did
not appear as a proprietor of the table； but as a player like
himself。 O'Mara must therefore be discharged； but the two
witnesses would not be so fortunate。 From their own mouths it
appeared that they had been using subtle craft to deceive and
impose upon his Majesty's subjects； by playing or betting at
unlawful games； and had no legal or visible means of gaining a
livelihood； the court； therefore； adjudged them to be rogues and
vagabonds； and committed them； in execution； to the gaol at
Lewes； there to remain till the next Quarter Sessions； and then
to be further dealt with according to law。 A short private
conference followed between the magistrates and Mr Adolphus； the
result of which was that Mr Walker was not proceeded against； but
entered into a recognizance not to permit any kind of gaming to
be carried on in his house。
CHAPTER VIII。
GAMBLING AT THE GERMAN BATHING…PLACES。
BADEN AND ITS CONVERSATION HOUSE。
Baden…Baden in the season is full of the most exciting
contrastsgay restaurants and brilliant saloons； gaming…tables；
promenades； and theatres crammed with beauty and rank； in the
midst of lovely natural scenery； and under the shade of the pine…
clad heights of the Hercynian or Black Forestthe scene of so
many weird tales of old Germanyas for instance of the charming
_Undine_ of De la Mothe Fouque。
But among the seducing attractions of Baden…Baden； and of all
German bathing…places； the Rouge…et…noir and Roulette…table hold
a melancholy pre…eminence；being at once a shameful source of
revenue to the prince；a rallying point for the gay； the
beautiful； the professional blackleg； the incognito duke or
king；and a vortex in which the student； the merchant； and the
subaltern officer are； in the course of the season； often
hopelessly and irrevocably ingulfed。 Remembering the gaming
excitement of the primitive Germans； we can scarcely be surprised
to find that the descendants of these northern races poison the
pure stream of pleasure by the introduction of this hateful
occupation。 It is； however； rather remarkable that all foreign
visitors； whether Dutch； Flemish； Swede； Italian； or even
English； of whatever age or disposition or sex； ‘catch the
frenzy' during the （falsely so…called） _Kurzeit_； that is； _Cure…
season_； at Baden； Ems； and Ais。
Princes and their subjects； fathers and sons； and even； horrible
to say； mothers and daughters； are hanging； side by side； for
half the night over the green table； and； with trembling hands
and anxious eyes； watching their chance…cards； or thrusting
francs and Napoleons with their rakes to the red or the black
cloth。
No spot in the whole world draws together a more distinguished
society than may be met at Baden； its attractions are felt and
acknowledged by every country in Europe。 Many of the
_elite_ of each nation may yearly be found there during the
months of summer； and； as a natural consequence； many of the
worst and vilest follow them； in the hope of pillage。
Says Mrs Trollope：‘I doubt if anything less than the evidence
of the senses can enable any one fully to credit and comprehend
the spectacle that a gaming…table offers。 I saw women
distinguished by rank； elegant in person； modest； and even
reserved in manner； sitting at the Rouge…et…noir table with their
rateaux； or rakes； and marking…cards in their hands；the
former to push forth their bets； and draw in their winnings； the
latter to prick down the events of the game。 I saw such at
different hours through the whole of Sunday。 To name these is
impossible； but I grieve to say that two English women were among
them。'
The Conversationshaus； where the gambling takes place； is let out
by the Government of Baden to a company of speculators； who pay；
for the exclusive privilege of keeping the tables； L11；000
annually； and agree to spend in addition 250；000 florins
（L25；000） on the walks and buildings； making altogether about
L36；000。 Some idea may be formed from this of the vast
sums of money which must be yearly lost by the dupes who frequent
it。 The whole is under the direction of M。 Benazet； who formerly
farmed the gambling houses of Paris。
‘On trouve ici le jeu； les livres； la musique；
Les cigarres； l'amour； les orangers；
Le monde tantot gai； tantot melancholique；
Les glaces； la danse； et les cochers；
De la biere； de bons diners；
A cote d'arbre une boutique；
Et la vue de hauts rochers。
Ma foi！'
‘We find here gambling； books； and music；
Cigars； love…making； orange…trees；
People or gay or melancholic；
Ices； dancing； and coachmen； if you please；
Beer； and good dinners； besides these；
Shops where they sell not _on tic；_
And towering rocks one ever sees。'
‘How shall I describe；' says Mr Whitelocke； ‘to my readers in
language sufficiently graphic； one of the resorts the most
celebrated in Europe； a place； if not competing with Crockford's
in gorgeous magnificence and display； at least surpassing it in
renown； and known over a wider sphere？ The metropolitan pump…
room of Europe； conducted on the principle of gratuitous
admittance to all bearing the semblance of gentility and
conducting themselves with propriety； opens its Janus doors to
all the world with the most laudable hospitality and with a
perfect indifference to exclusiveness； requiring only the hat to
be taken off upon entering； and rejecting only short jackets；
cigar； pipe； and meerschaum。 A room of this description； a
temple dedicated to fashion； fortune； and flirtation； requires a
pen more current； a voice more eloquent； than mine to trace；
condense； vivify； and depict。 Taking everything； therefo