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the gaming table-vol. 1-第56章

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His success at Faro had awakened a host of creditors; but; unless

his bank had swelled to the size of the Bank of England; it could

not have yielded a half…penny apiece for each。  Epsom too had

been unpropitious; and one creditor had actually seized and

carried off Fox's goods; which did not seem worth removing。  Yet;

shortly after this; whom should Walpole find sauntering by his

own door but Fox; who came up and talked to him at the coach

window; on the Marriage Bill; with as much _sang…froid_ as

if he knew nothing of what had happened。  Doubtless this

indifference was to be attributed quite as much to the

callousness of the reckless gambler as to anything that might be

called ‘philosophy。'



It seems clear that the ruling passion of Fox was partly owing to

the lax training of his father; who; by his lavish allowances;

not only fostered his propensity to play; but had also been

accustomed to give him; when a mere boy; money to amuse himself

at the gaming table。  According to Chesterfield; the first Lord

Holland ‘had no fixed principles in religion or morality;' and he

censures him to his son for being ‘too unwary in ridiculing and

exposing them。'  He gave full swing to Charles in his youth。

‘Let nothing be done;' said his lordship; ‘to break his spirit;

the world will do that for him。'  At his death; in 1774; he left

him L154;000 to pay his debts; it was all ‘bespoke;' and Fox

soon became as deeply pledged as before。'126'





'126' Timbs; ubi supra。  There is a mistake in the

anecdote respecting Fox's duel with Mr Adam (not Adams); as

related by Mr Timbs in his amusing book of the Clubs。  The

challenge was in consequence of some words uttered by Fox in

parliament; and not on account of some remark on Government

powder; to which Fox wittily alluded; after the duel;

saying‘Egad; Adam; you would have killed me if it had not been

Government powder。'  See Gilchrist; Ordeals; Millingen; Hist。

of Duelling; ii。; and Steinmetz; Romance of Duelling; ii。





The following are authentic anecdotes of Fox; as a gambler。



Fox had a gambling debt to pay to Sir John Slade。  Finding

himself in cash; after a lucky run at Faro; he sent a

complimentary card to the knight; desiring to discharge the

claim。  Sir John no sooner saw the money than he called for pen

and ink; and began to figure。  ‘What now?' cried Fox。  ‘Only

calculating the interest;' replied the other。  ‘Are you so?'

coolly rejoined Charles James; and pocketed the cash; adding‘I

thought it was a _debt of honour_。  As you seem to consider it a

trading debt; and as I make it an invariable rule to pay my Jew…

creditors last; you must wait a little longer for your money。'



Fox once played cards with Fitzpatrick at Brookes' from ten

o'clock at night till near six o'clock the next morninga waiter

standing by to tell them ‘whose deal it was'they being too

sleepy to know。



On another occasion he won about L8000; and one of his bond…

creditors; who soon heard of his good luck; presented

himself and asked for payment。  ‘Impossible; sir;' replied Fox;

‘I must first discharge my debts of honour。'  The bond…creditor

remonstrated; and finding Fox inflexible; tore the bond to pieces

and flung it into the fire; exclaiming‘Now; sir; your debt to

me is a _debt of honour_。'  Struck by the creditor's witty

rejoinder; Fox instantly paid the money。'127'





'127'  The above is the version of this anecdote which I

remember as being current in my young days。  Mr Timbs and others

before him relate the anecdote as follows:‘On another occasion

he won about L8000; and one of his bond…creditors; who soon

heard of his good luck; presented himself and asked for payment。'



‘Impossible; sir;' replied Fox ‘I must first discharge my debts

of honour。'  The bond…creditor remonstrated。  ‘Well; sir; give me

your bond。'  It was delivered to Fox; who tore it in pieces and

threw it into the fire。  ‘Now; sir;' said Fox; ‘my debt to you is

a debt of honour;' and immediately paid him 。



Now; it is evident that Fox could not destroy the document

without rendering himself still more ‘liable' in point of law。  I

submit that the version in the text is the true one; conforming

with the legal requirement of the case and influencing the debtor

by the originality of the performance of the creditor。





Amidst the wildest excesses of youth; even while the perpetual

victim of his passion for play; Fox eagerly cultivated his taste

for letters; especially the Greek and Roman historians and poets;

and he found resources in their works under the most severe

depressions occasioned by ill…successes at the gaming table。  One

morning; after Fox had passed the whole night in company with

Topham Beauclerc at Faro; the two friends were about to separate。



Fox had lost throughout the night; and was in a frame of mind

approaching to desperation。  Beauclerc's anxiety for the

consequences which might ensue led him to be early at Fox's

lodgings; and on arriving he inquired; not without apprehension;

whether he had risen。  The servant replied that Mr Fox was in the

drawing…room; when Beauclerc walked up…stairs and cautiously

opened the door; expecting to behold a frantic gamester stretched

on the floor; bewailing his losses; or plunged in moody despair;

but he was astonished to find him reading a Greek Herodotus。



On perceiving his friend's surprise; Fox exclaimed; ‘What would

you have me do?  I have lost my last shilling。'



Upon other occasions; after staking and losing all that he could

raise at Faro; instead of exclaiming against fortune; or

manifesting the agitation natural under such circumstances; he

would lay his head on the table and retain his place; but;

exhausted by mental and bodily fatigue; almost immediately

fall into a profound sleep。



Fox's best friends are said to have been half ruined in annuities

given by them as securities for him to the Jews。  L500;000 a…

year of such annuities of Fox and his ‘society' were advertised

to be sold at one time。  Walpole wondered what Fox would do when

he had sold the estates of his friends。  Walpole further notes

that in the debate on the Thirty…nine Articles; February 6; 1772;

Fox did not shine; nor could it be wondered at。  He had sat up

playing at Hazard; at Almack's; from Tuesday evening; the 4th;

till five in the afternoon of Wednesday; the 5th。  An hour before

he had recovered L12;000 that he had lost; and by dinner;

which was at five o'clock; he had ended losing L11;000!  On

the Thursday he spoke in the above debate; went to dinner at past

eleven at night; from thence to White's; where he drank till

seven the next morning; thence to Almack's; where he won

L6000; and between three and four in the afternoon he set out

for Newmarket。  His brother Stephen lost L11;000 two nights

after; and Charles L10;000 more on the 13th; so that in

three nights the two brothersthe eldest not _twenty…five_

years of agelost L32;000!'128'


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