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Vivian； Wilson Croker； _Disraeli_； Horace Twiss； Copley； George
Anson； and George Payne _WERE PRETTY SURE OF BEING PRESENT_；
many of them playing high。'
Respecting this statement the _Times'_＇137＇ reviewer
observes：‘We do not know what the Chancellor of the Exchequer
will say to this。 Mr Wilson Croker （who affected great
strictness） would have fainted away。 But the authority of a
writer who does not know Sir St Vincent Cotton （the ex…driver of
the Brighton coach） from Sir _Stapleton_ Cotton （the Peninsular
hero） will go for little in such matters； and as for Copley； Lord
Lyndhurst （just then promoted from the Rolls to the Woolsack）；
why not say at once that he attended the nocturnal sittings at
Crockford's in his robes。'
＇137＇ Jan。 7； 1868。
CHAPTER XII。
REMARKABLE GAMESTERS。
MONSIEUR CHEVALIER。
Monsieur CHevalier； Captain of the Grenadiers in the first
regiment of Foot Guards； in the time of Charles II。 of England；
was a native of Normandy。 In his younger days he was page to the
Duchess of Orleans； but growing too big for that service； he came
to England to seek his fortune； and by some good luck and favour
became an ensign in the first regiment of Foot Guards。 His pay；
however； being insufficient to maintain him； he felt compelled to
become a gamester； or rather to resort to a practice in which
doubtless he had been early initiated at the Court of France； and
he managed so well that he was soon enabled to keep up an
equipage much above his station。
Among the ‘bubbles' who had the misfortune to fall into
Chevalier's hands； was a certain nobleman； who lost a larger sum
to him than he could conveniently pay down； and asked for time；
to which Chevalier assented； and in terms so courteous and
obliging that the former； a fortnight after； in order to let him
see that he remembered his civility； came one morning and told
Chevalier that he had a company of Foot to dispose of； and if it
was worth his while； it should be at his service。 Nothing could
be more acceptable to Chevalier； who at once closed for the
bargain； and got his commission signed the same day。 Besides the
fact that it was a time of peace； Chevalier knew well that the
military title of Captain was a very good cloak to shelter under。
He knew that a man of no employment or any visible income； who
appears and lives like a gentleman； and makes gaming his constant
business； is always suspected of not playing for diversion only；
and； in short； of knowing and practising more than he should do。
Chevalier once won 20 guineas from mad Ogle； the Life…guardsman；
who； understanding that the former had bit him； called him to
account； demanding either his money back； or satisfaction in the
field。 Chevalier； having always courage enough to maintain
what he did； chose the latter。 Ogle fought him in Hyde Park； and
wounded him through the sword arm； and got back his money。 After
this they were always good friends； playing several comical
tricks； one of which is as follows； strikingly illustrating the
manners of the times。
Chevalier and Ogle meeting one day in Fleet Street jostled for
the wall； which they strove to take of each other； whereupon
words arising between them； they drew swords； and pushed very
hard at one another； but were prevented； by the great crowd which
gathered about them； from doing any mischief。 Ogle； seeming
still to resent the affront； cried to Chevalier； ‘If you are a
gentleman； pray follow me。' The French hero accepted the
challenge； so going together up Bell Yard and through Lincoln's
Inn； with some hundreds of the mob at their heels； as soon as the
seeming adversaries were got into Lincoln's Inn Fields； they both
fell a running as fast as they could； with their swords drawn； up
towards Lord Powis's house； which was then building； and leaped
into a saw…pit。 The rabble presently ran after them； to part
them again； and feared mischief would be done before they
could get up to them； but when they arrived at the saw…pit； they
saw Chevalier at one side of it and Ogle at the other； sitting
together as lovingly as if they had never fallen out at all。 And
then the mob was so incensed at this trick put upon them； that
had not some gentlemen accidentally come by； they would have
knocked them both on the head with brickbats。
Chevalier had an excellent knack at cogging a die； and such
command in the throwing； that； chalking a circle on a table； with
its circumference no bigger than a shilling； he would； at above
the distance of one foot； throw a die exactly into it； which
should be either ace； deuce； trey； or what he pleased。
Aubrey de Vere； Earl of Oxford； was a great gambler of the time；
and often practised dice…throwing in his shirt during the morning
until he fancied himself in luck； when he would proceed to try
his fortune with Chevalier； but the dexterity of the latter
always convinced the earl that no certainty lies on the good
success which may be fancied as likely to result from play in
jest。 Chevalier won a great deal of money from that peer； ‘who
lost most of his estate at gaming before he died； and which
ought to be a warning to all noblemen。'
Chevalier was a skilful sharper； and thoroughly up in the art and
mystery of loading dice with quicksilver； but having been
sometimes detected in his sharping tricks； he was obliged ‘to
look on the point of the sword； with which being often wounded；
latterly he declined fighting； if there were any way of escape。'
Having once ‘choused；' or cheated； a Mr Levingstone； page of
honour to King James II。； out of 50 guineas； the latter gave the
captain a challenge to fight him next day behind Montague House
a locality long used for the purpose of duelling。 Chevalier
seemingly accepted the challenge； and next morning； Levingstone
going to Chevalier's lodging； whom he found in bed； put him in
mind of what he was come about。 Chevalier； with the greatest air
of courage imaginable； rose； and having dressed himself； said to
Levingstone‘Me must beg de favour of you to stay a few minutes；
sir； while I step into my closet dere； for as me be going about
one desperate piece of work； it is very requisite for me to say a
small prayer or two。' Accordingly Mr Levingstone consented to
wait whilst Chevalier retired to his closet to pray； but
hearing the conclusion of his prayer to end with these words‘Me
verily believe spilling man's blood is one ver' great sin；
wherefore I hope all de saints will interced vid de Virgin for my
once killing Monsieur de Blotieres at Rochelle；my killing
Chevalier de Cominge at Brest；killing Major de Tierceville at
Lyons；killing Lieutenant du Marche Falliere at Paris； with half
a dozen other men in France； so； being also sure of killing him
I'm now going to fight； me hope his forcing me to shed his blood
will not be laid to my charge；'quoth Levingstone to himself
‘And are you then so sure of me？ But I'l