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‘It was my determination； however； if fortune favoured me through
the night； never to tempt her more。 For some hours I proceeded
in the torture of suspense； alternately agitated by hope and
fearbut by five o'clock in the morning I attained a state of
certainty similar to that of a wretch ushered into the regions of
the damned。 I had lost L3500 guineas； which I had brought
with me from the Hazard table； together with L2000 which the
bank advanced me on my credit。 There they stopped； and； with an
apathy peculiar to themselves； listened to a torrent of puerile
abuse which I vented against them in my despair。
‘Two days and two nights I shut myself up； to indulge in the most
racking reflections。 I was ruined beyond repair； and I had；
on the third morning； worked myself up to resort for relief to a
loaded pistol。 I rang for my servant to bring me some gunpowder；
and was debating with myself whether to direct its force to my
brain or my heart； when he entered with a letter。 It was from
Harriet 。 She had heard of my misfortunes； and urged me with
the soul and pen of a heroine； to fly the destructive habits of
the town； and to wait for nine months； when her minority would
expire； and she would come into the uncontrolled possession of
L1700。 With that small sum she hoped my expenses； talents；
and domestic comfort； under her housewifery； would create a state
of happiness and independence which millions could not procure in
the mad career which I had pursued。
‘This was the voice of a guardian angel in the moment of despair。
In her next； at my request； she informed me that the channel of
her early and minute information was the clerical prig； her
neighbour and admirer； who was related to one of the croupiers
at ； and had from him a regular detail of my proceedings。
‘Soothed by the magic influence of my virtuous Harriet；
instead of calling the croupier to account； I wrote to the
proprietors of the bank； stating my ruined condition； and my
readiness to sell my commission and pay them what I could。 These
gentlemen have friends in every department。 They completed the
transfer of my lieutenancy in two days； and then； in their
superabundant humanity； offered me the place of croupier in an
inferior house which they kept near Hanover Square。 This offer I
declined； and after having paid my tradesman's bill； I left
London with only eleven guineas in my pocket。 I married the best
of women； my preserver； and have ever since lived in real comfort
and happiness； on an income less than one hundred pounds a year。'
A SURPRISE。
A stranger plainly dressed took his seat at a Faro table； when
the bank was richer than usual。 After some little routine play；
he challenged the bank； and tossed his pocket…book to the banker
that he might be satisfied of his responsibility。 It was found
to contain bills to an immense amount； and on the banker showing
reluctance to accept the challenge； the stranger sternly demanded
compliance with the laws of the game。 The card soon turned
up which decided the ruin of the banker。 ‘Heaven！' exclaimed an
old infirm Austrian officer； who had sat next to the stranger
‘the twentieth part of your gains would make me the happiest man
in the universe！' The stranger briskly answered‘You shall have
it； then；' and quitted the room。 A servant speedily returned；
and presented the officer with the twentieth part of the bank；
adding‘My master requires no answer； sir；' and went out。 The
successful stranger was soon recognized to be the great King of
Prussia in disguise。
CHAPTER XIII。
THE LOTTERIES AND THEIR BEWILDERMENTS。
If we are to believe Pere Menestrier； the institution of
Lotteries is to be found in the Bible； in the words‘The _LOT_
causeth contentions to cease； and parteth between the mighty；'
Prov。 xviii。 18。 Be that as it may； it is certain that lotteries
were in use among the ancient Romans； taking place during the
_Saturnalia_； or festivities in honour of the god Saturn； when
those who took part in them received a numbered ticket； which
entitled the bearer to a prize。 During the reign of Augustus the
thing became a means of gratifying the cupidity of his courtiers；
and Nero used it as the method of distributing his gifts to the
people；granting as many as a thousand tickets a day； some of
them entitling the bearers to slaves； ships； houses； and
lands。 Domitian compelled the senators and knights to
participate in the lotteries； in order to debase them； and
Heliogabalus； in his fantastic festivities； distributed tickets
which entitled the bearers to camels； flies； and other odd things
suggested by his madness。 In all this； however； the distinctive
character of modern lotteries was totally absent： the tickets
were always gratuitous； so that if the people did not win
anything； they never lost。
In the Middle Ages the same practice prevailed at the banquets of
feudal princes； who apportioned their presents economically； and
without the fear of exciting jealousy among the recipients； by
granting lottery tickets indiscriminately to their friends。 The
practice afterwards descended to the merchants； and in Italy；
during the 16th century； it became a favourite mode of disposing
of their wares。
The application of lotteries by paid tickets to the service of
the state is said to have originated at Florence； under the name
of ‘Lotto；' in 1530； others say at Genoa； under the following
circumstances：It had long been customary in the latter city to
choose annually； by ballot； five members of the Senate （composed
of 90 persons） in order to form a particular council。 Some
persons took this opportunity of laying bets that the lot would
fall on such or such senators。 The government； seeing with what
eagerness the people interested themselves in these bets；
conceived the idea of establishing a lottery on the same
principle； which was attended with such great success； that all
the cities of Italy wished to participate in it； and sent large
sums of money to Genoa for that purpose。
To increase the revenues of the Church； the Pope also was induced
to establish a lottery at Rome； the inhabitants of which place
became so fond of this species of gambling； that they often
deprived themselves and their families of the necessaries of
life； that they might have money to lay out in this speculation。
The French borrowed the idea from the Italians。 In the year
1520； under Francis I。； lotteries were permitted by edict under
the name of _Blanques_； from the Italian _bianca carta_； ‘white
tickets；' because all the losing tickets were considered
_BLANKS；_hence the introduction of the word into common talk；
with a similar meaning。 From the year 1539 the state derived a
revenue from the lotteries； although from 1563 to 1609 the French
parliament repeatedly endeavoured to suppress them as social
evils。 At the marriage of Louis XIV。 a lottery was organized