He
had been a visitor in that capital about a month, when he
received an invitation to one of the splendid dinners given
weekly at the salon. As he never played, he hesitated about the
propriety of accepting it, but on the assurance that it would not
be expected of him to play; and, moreover, as he might not again
have so good an opportunity of visiting an establishment of the
kind, he resolved to go--merely for the satisfaction of his
curiosity. He had a few stray napoleons in his purse, to throw
them--'just for the good of the house,' as he considered it--
could hardly be called PLAY, so he threw them. Poor fellow! He
left off a winner of fourteen hundred napoleons, or about as many
pounds sterling--and so easily won! He went again, again, and
again; but he was not always a winner; and within fifteen months
of the moment when his hand first grasped the dice-box he was
lying dead in a jail!
LORD WORTHALL'S DESPERATE WAGER.
At a gambling party Lord Worthall had lost all his money, and in
a fit of excitement staked his whole estate against L1000, at
cutting low with cards, and in cutting exclaimed,--
'Up now Deuce, or else a Trey,
Or Worthall's gone for ever and aye.
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