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will not be laid to my charge；'quoth Levingstone to himself
‘And are you then so sure of me？ But I'll engage you shan'tfor
if you are such a devil at killing men； you shall go and fight
yourself and be 。' Whereupon he made what haste he could
away； and shortly Chevalier coming out of the closet and finding
Levingstone not in the room； was very glad of his absence。'
Some time after； Chevalier was called to account by another
gentleman。 They met at the appointed hour in Chelsea Fields；
when Chevalier said to his adversary‘Pray； sir； for what do we
fight？' The gentleman replied‘For honour and reputation。'
Thereupon Chevalier pulling a halter out of his pocket； and
throwing it between him and his antagonist； exclaimed‘Begar；
sir； we only fight for dis one piece of ropeso e'en _WIN IT
AND WEAR IT_。' The effect of this jest was so great on his
adversary that swords were put up； and they went home together
good friends。
Chevalier continued his sharping courses for about fourteen
years； running a reckless race； ‘sometimes with much money；
sometimes with little； but always as lavish in spending as he was
covetous in getting it； until at last King James ascending the
throne； the Duke of Monmouth raised a rebellion in the West of
England； where； in a skirmish between the Royalists and Rebels；
he was shot in the back； and the wound thought to be given by one
of his own men； to whom he had always been a most cruel； harsh
officer； whilst a captain of the Grenadiers of the Foot Guards。
He was sensible himself how he came by this misfortune； for when
he was carried to his tent mortally wounded； and the Duke of
Albemarle came to visit him； he said to his Grace‘Dis was none
of my foe dat shot me in the back。' ‘He was none of your friend
that shot you；' the duke replied。
So dying within a few hours after； he was interred in a
field near Philip Norton Lane； as the old chronicler says‘much
_UN_lamented by all who knew him。'＇138＇
＇138＇ Lucas； _Memoirs of Gamesters and Sharpers_。
JOHN HIGDEN。
This gambler； who flourished towards the end of the 17th century；
was descended from a very good family in the West of England。 In
his younger days he was a member of the Honourable Society of the
Middle Temple； but his inclinations being incompatible with close
study of the law； he soon quitted the inns of court and went into
the army。 He obtained not only a commission in the first
regiment of Boot Guards； but a commission of the peace for the
county of Middlesex； in which he continued for three or four
years as Justice Higden。 He was very great at dice； and one
night he and another of his fraternity going to a gaming house；
Higden drew a chair and sat down； but as often as the box came to
him he passed it； and remained only as a spectator； but at last
one of the players said to him pertly； ‘Sir； if you won't play；
what do you sit there for？' Upon which Higden snatched up
the dice…box and said； ‘Set me what you will and I'll throw at
it。' One of the gentlemen set him two guineas； which he won； and
then set him four； which he ‘nicked' also。 The rest of the
gentlemen took the part of the loser； and set to Higden； who； by
some art and some good luck； won 120 guineas； and presently；
after throwing out； rose from the table and went to his companion
by the fireside； who asked him how he durst be so audacious as to
play； knowing he had not a shilling in his pocket？ One of the
losers overhearing what was said； exclaimed； ‘How's thatyou had
no money when you began to play？' ‘That's no matter；' replied
Higden； ‘I have enough _NOW；_ and if you had won of me； you must
have been contented to have kicked； buffeted； or pumped me； and
you would have done it as long as you liked。 Besides； sir； I am
a soldier； and have often faced the mouths of thundering cannons
for _EIGHT SHILLINGS A DAY_； and do you think I would not hazard
the tossing of a blanket for the money I have won to…night？'
‘All the parties wondered at his confidence； but he laughed
heartily at their folly and his good fortune； and so marched off
with a light heart and a heavy purse。' Afterwards； ‘to make
himself as miserable as he could； he turned poet； went to
Ireland； published a play or two； and shortly after he died very
poor； in 1703。'＇139＇
＇139＇ _ubi supra。_
MONSIEUR GERMAIN。
This gambler was of low birth； his parents keeping an ordinary in
Holland； where he was born； as stated by the old chronicler； ‘in
the happy Revolution of 1688。'
His career is remarkable on account of his connection with Lady
Mary Mordaunt； wife of ‘the Duke of Norfolk； who； proving her
guilty of adultery； was divorced from her。 She then lived
publicly with Germain。'
This Germain was the first to introduce what was called the
_Spanish Whist_； stated to be ‘a mere bite； performed after this
manner：Having a pack of cards； the four treys are privately
laid on the top of them； under them an ace； and next to that a
deuce； then； letting your adversary cut the cards； you do not
pack them； but deal all of them that are cut off； one at a time；
between you； then； taking up the other parcel of cards； you deal
more cards； giving yourself two treys and a deuce； and to
the other persons two treys and an ace； when； laying the
remainder of the cards downwherein are allowed no trumps； but
only the highest cards winso they are but of the same suit；
whilst you are playing； giving your antagonist all you can； as
though it is not in your power to prevent him。 You seem to fret；
and cry you have good _put…cards；_ he； having two treys and an
ace； will be apt to lay a wager with you that you cannot have
better than he； then you binding the wager； he soon sees his
mistake。 But in this trick you must observe to put the other
three deuces under yours when you deal。'
It seems that this Monsieur Germain is not only remarkable for
the above precious addition to human knowledge； but also on
account of his expertness at the game of _Ombre_； celebrated and
so elegantly described by Pope in his ‘Rape of the Lock。'
He appears to have lived with the Duchess of Norfolk ever after
the divorce； and he died a little after Lady Mary； in 1712； aged
46 years。＇140＇
＇140＇ _ubi supra_。
TOM HUGHES。
This Irishman was born in Dublin； and was the son of a
respectable tradesman。 Falling into dissipated company； he soon
left the city to try his fortune in London； where he played very
deep and very successfully。
He threw away his gains as fast as he made them； chiefly among
the frail sisterhood； at a notorious house in those days； in the
Piazza； Covent Garden。 He frequented Carlisle House in Soho
Square； and was a proprietor of E O tables kept by a Dr Graham in
Pall Mall。
He had a rencontre； in consequence of a dispute at play； and was
wounded。 The meeting took place under the Piazza； and his
antagonist's sword st