When the luck changes, however, the case is reversed, and the
former loser becomes, in his turn, ten times more pitiless--like
that Roman prefect, mentioned by Tacitus, who was the more
inexorable because he had been harshly treated in his youth, co
immmitior quia toleraverat. The joy at winning back his money
only makes a gamester the more covetous of winning that of his
adversary. A wealthy man once lost 100,000 crowns, and begged to
be allowed to go and sell his property, which was worth double
the amount he had lost. 'Why sell it?' said his adversary; 'let
us play for the remainder.' They played; luck changed; and the
late LOSER ruined the other.
Sometimes avidity makes terrible mistakes; many, in order to win
more, have lost their all to persons who had not a shilling to
lose. During the depth of a severe winter, a gamester beheld
with terror the bottom of his purse. Unable to resolve on
quitting the gaming table--for players in that condition are
always the most stubborn--he shouted to his valet--'Go and fetch
my great sack.' These words, uttered without design, stimulated
the cupidity of those who no longer cared to play with him, and
now they were eager for it.
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