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seducing confederates； and infatuated dupes。
‘The rooms are well distributed； the saloons handsome。 A
sparkling of ladies； apparently （and really； as I understood） of
the best water； the _elite_； in short； of Aix…la…Chapelle；
were lounging on sofas placed round the principal saloon； or
fluttering about amidst a crowd of men； who filled up the centre
of the room； or thronged round the tables that were ranged on one
side of it。
‘The players continued their occupation in death…like silence；
undisturbed by the buzz or the gaze of the lookers…on； not a
sound was heard but the rattle of the heaped…up money； as it was
passed from one side of the table to the other； nor was the
smallest anxiety or emotion visible on any countenance。
‘The scene was unpleasing； though to me curious from its novelty。
Ladies are admitted to play； but there were none occupied this
morning。 I was glad of it； indeed； though English travellers are
accused of carrying about with them a portable code of morality；
which dissolves or stiffens like a soap…cake as circumstances may
affect its consistency； yet I sincerely believe that there are
few amongst us who would not feel shocked at seeing one of the
gentler sex in so unwomanly a position。'＇82＇
＇82＇ Reminiscences of the Rhine； &c。 Anon。
WIESBADEN。
The gambling here in 1868 has been described in a very vivid
manner。
‘Since the enforcement of the Prussian Sunday observance
regulations； Monday has become the great day of the week for the
banks of the German gambling establishments。 Anxious to make up
for lost time； the regular contributors to the company's
dividends flock early on Monday forenoon to the play…rooms in
order to secure good places at the tables； which； by the
appointed hour for commencing operations （eleven o'clock）； are
closely hedged round by persons of both sexes； eagerly waiting
for the first deal of the cards or the initial twist of the brass
wheel； that they may try another fall with Fortune。 Before each
seated player are arranged precious little piles of gold and
silver； a card printed in black and red； and a long pin；
wherewith to prick out a system of infallible gain。 The
croupiers take their seats and unpack the strong box； rouleaux
long metal sausages composed of double and single florins；
wooden bowls brimming over with gold Frederics and Napoleons；
bank notes of all sizes and colours； are arranged upon the
black leather compartment； ruled over by the company's officers；
half…a…dozen packs of new cards are stripped of their paper
cases； and swiftly shuffled together； and when all these
preliminaries； watched with breathless anxiety by the surrounding
speculators； have been gravely and carefully executed； the chief
croupier looks round hima signal for the prompt investment of
capital on all parts of the tablechucks out a handful of cards
from the mass packed together convenient to his handejaculates
the formula； 〃Faites le jeu！〃 and； after half a minute's pause；
during which he delicately moistens the ball of his dealing
thumb； exclaims 〃Le jeu est fait； rien ne va plus；〃 and
proceeds to interpret the decrees of fate according to the
approved fashion of Trente et Quarante。 A similar scene is
taking place at the Roulette tablea goodly crop of florins；
with here and there a speck of gold shining amongst the silver
harvest； is being sown over the field of the cloth of green； soon
to be reaped by the croupier's sickle； and the pith ball is being
dropped into the revolving basin that is partitioned off into so
many tiny black and red niches。 For the next twelve hours the
processes in question are carried on swiftly and steadily；
without variation or loss of time； relays of croupiers are laid
on； who unobtrusively slip into the places of their fellows when
the hours arrive for relieving guard； the game is never stopped
for more than a couple of minutes at a time； viz。； when the cards
run out and have to be re…shuffled。 This brief interruption is
commonly considered to portend a break in the particular vein
which the game may have happened to assume during the dealsay a
run upon black or red； an alternation of coups （in threes or
fours） upon either colour； two reds and a black； or _vice
versa_； all equally frequent eccentricities of the cards； and
the heavier players often change their seats； or leave the table
altogether for an hour or so at such a conjuncture。 Curiously
enough； excepting at the very commencement of the day's play； the
_habitues_ of the Trente et Quarante tables appear to
entertain a strong antipathy to the first deal or two after the
cards have been 〃re…made。〃 I have been told by one or two
masters of the craft that they have a fancy to see how matters
are likely to go before they strike in； as if it were possible to
deduce the future of the game from its past！ That it is possible
appears to be an article of faith with the old stagers； and；
indeed； every now and then odd coincidences occur which tend to
confirm them in their creed。 I witnessed an occurrence which was
either attributable （as I believe） to sheer chance； or （as its
hero earnestly assured me） to instinct。 A fair and frail Magyar
was punting on numbers with immense pluck and uniform ill
fortune。 Behind her stood a Viennese gentleman of my
acquaintance； who enjoys a certain renown amongst his friends for
the faculty of prophecy； which； however； he seldom exercises for
his own benefit。 Observing that she hesitated about staking her
double florin； he advised her to set it on the number 3。 Round
went the wheel； and in twenty seconds the ball tumbled into
compartment 3 sure enough。 At the next turn she asked his
advice； and was told to try number 24。 No sooner said than done；
and 24 came up in due course； whereby Mdlle L。 C。 won 140 odd
gulden in two coups； the amount risked by her being exactly four
florins。 Like a wise girl； she walked off with her booty； and
played no more that day at Roulette。 A few minutes later I saw
an Englishman go through the performance of losing four thousand
francs by experimentalizing on single numbers。 Twenty times
running did he set ten louis…d'ors on a number （varying the
number at each stake）； and not one of his selection proved
successful。 At the 〃Thirty and Forty〃 I saw an eminent
diplomatist win sixty thousand francs with scarcely an
intermission of failure； he played all over the table； pushing
his rouleaux backwards and forwards； from black to red； without
any appearance of system that I could detect； and the cards
seemed to follow his inspiration。 It was a great battle； as
usual； three or four smaller fish followed in his wake； till they
lost courage and set against him； much to their discomfiture and
the advantage of the bank； but from first to lastthat is； till
the cards ran out； and he left the tablehe was steadily
victorious。 In the evening he went in again for another heavy
b