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Hombourg or Wiesbaden； with the player saying； 〃Cinquante louis
aux billet；〃 〃Cent…vingt louis a la masse；〃 and the
winnings scrupulously paid； or the losings raked carefully away
from the heap。 They do not allow that at Spa； there is an order
against it on the wall。 They could not trust the people that
play； I suppose； and it is doubtful if the people could trust the
croupiers。 The ball spins more slowly at _Roulette_the
cards are dealt more gingerly at _Trente…et…quarante_ here than
elsewhere。 Nothing must be done quickly； lest somebody on one
side or other should try to do somebody else。 Altogether Spa is
not a pleasant place to play in； and as； moreover； the odds are
as great against you as at Ems； it is better to stick to the
promenade _de sept heures_ and the ball…room； and leave the two
tables alone。 Outside it is cheery and full of life。 The Queen
of the Belgians is here； the Duke of Aumale； and other nice
people。 The breeze from the hills is always delicious； the
Promenade Meyerbeer as refreshing on a hot day as a draught of
iced water。 But the denizens； male and female； of the _salons de
jeu_ are often obnoxious； and one wishes that the old Baden law
could be enforced against some of the gentler sex。
‘By way of warning to any of your readers who propose to visit
the tables this summer； will you let me tell a little anecdote；
from personal experience； of one of these placeswhich one I had
perhaps better not say。 I took a place at the Roulette table；
and had not staked more than once or twice； when two handsomely
dressed ladies placed themselves one on either side of me； and
commenced playing with the smallest coins allowed； wedging
me in rather unpleasantly close between them。 At my third or
fourth stake I won on both the colour and a number； and my
neighbour on the right quietly swept up my coins from the colour
the instant they were paid。 I remonstrated； and she very
politely argued the point； ending by restoring my money。 But
during our discussion my far larger stake； paid in the mean
while； on the winning number； had disappeared into the pocket of
my neighbour on the left； who was not so polite； and was very
indignant at my suggestion that the stake was mine。 An appeal to
the croupier only produced a shrug of the shoulders and regret
that he had not seen who staked the money； an offer to stop the
play； and a suggestion that I should find it very difficult to
prove it was my stake。 The 〃plant〃 between the two women was
evident。 The whole thing was a systematically…planned robbery；
and very possibly the croupier was a confederate。 I detected the
two women in communication； and I told them that I should change
my place to the other side of the table where I would trouble
them not to come。 They took the hint very mildly； and could
afford to do so； for they had got my money。 The affair was
very neatly managed； and would succeed in nearly every case；
especially if the croupier is； as is most probable； always on the
side of the ladies。'
HOMBOURG。
‘In 1842 Hombourg was an obscure village； consisting of the
castle of the Landgraf； and of a few hundred houses which in the
course of ages had clustered around it。 Few would have known of
its existence except from the fact of its being the capital of
the smallest of European countries。 Its inhabitants lived poor
and contentedthe world forgetting； by the world forgot。 It
boasted only of one innthe 〃Aigle〃which in summer was
frequented by a few German families； who came to live cheaply and
to drink the waters of a neighbouring mineral spring。 That same
year two French brothers of the name of Blanc arrived at
Frankfort。 They were men of a speculative turn； and a recent and
somewhat daring speculation in France； connected with the old
semaphore telegraph； had rendered it necessary for them to
withdraw for a time from their native land。 Their stock…in…trade
consisted in a Roulette wheel； a few thousand francs； and an
old and skilful croupier of Frascati； who knew a great deal about
the properties of cards。 The authorities of the town of
Frankfort； being dull traders； declined to allow them to initiate
their townsmen into the mysteries of cards and Roulette； so
hearing that there were some strangers living at Hombourg； they
put themselves into an old diligence； and the same evening
disembarked at the 〃Aigle。〃 The next day the elder brother
called upon the prime minister； an ancient gentleman； who； with a
couple of clerks； for some L60 a year governed the Landgrafate
of Hombourg to his own and the general satisfaction。 After a
private interview with this statesman the elder Blanc returned
poorer in money； but with a permission in his pocket to put up
his Roulette wheel in one of the rooms of the inn。 In a few
months the money of the innocent water…drinkers passed from their
pockets into those of the brothers Blanc。 The ancient man of
Frascati turned the wheel； and no matter on what number the
water…drinkers risked their money； that number did not turn up。
At the close of the summer season a second visit was made to the
prime minister； and the Blancs returned to Frankfort with an
exclusive concession to establish games of hazard within the wide
spreading dominions of the Landgraf。 For this they had agreed to
build a kursaal； to lay out a public garden； and to pay into the
national exchequer 40；000 florins （a florin is worth one shilling
and eight…pence） per annum。 Having obtained this concession； the
next step was to found a company。 Frankfort abounds in Hebrew
speculators； who are not particular how they make money； and as
the speculation appeared a good one； the money was soon
forthcoming。 It was decided that the nominal capital was to be
400；000 florins； divided into shares of 100 florins each。 Half
the shares were subscribed for by the Hebrew financialists； and
the other half was credited to the Blancs as the price of their
concession。 During the winter a small kursaal was built and a
small garden planted； the mineral well was deepened； and flaming
advertisements appeared in all the German newspapers announcing
to the world that the famous waters of Hombourg were able to cure
every disease to which flesh is heir； and that to enable visitors
to while away their evenings agreeably a salon had been opened；
in which they would have an opportunity to win fabulous sums
by risking their money either at the game of _Trente et Quarante_
or at _Roulette_。 From these small beginnings arose the
〃company〃 whose career has been so notorious。 It has enjoyed
uninterrupted good fortune。 During the twenty…six years that
have elapsed since its foundation； a vast palace dedicated to
gambling has been built； the village has become a town； well
paved； and lighted with gas； the neighbouring hills are covered
with villas； about eighty acres have been laid out in pleasure…
grounds； roads have been made in all directions throu