e was wonderfully struck with some gold-pieces
which Bassompierre brought to Fontainebleau, called _Portugalloises_. He
could not rest without having them. Play was necessary to win them,
but the king was also anxious to be in time for a hunt. In order to
conciliate the two passions, he ordered a gaming party at the Palace,
left a representative of his game during his absence, and returned
sooner than usual, to try and win the so much coveted _Portugalloises_.

Even love--if that name can be applied to the grovelling passion of
Henry IV., intensely violent as it was--could not, with its sensuous
enticements, drag the king from the gaming table or stifle his
despicable covetousness. On one occasion, whilst at play, it was
whispered to him that a certain princess whom he loved was likely to
fall into other arms:--'Take care of my money,' said he to Bassompierre,
'and keep up the game whilst I am absent on particular business.'

During this reign gamesters were in high favour, as may well be
imagined. One of them received an honour never conceded even to princes
and dukes. 'The latter,' says Amelot de la Houssaie, 'did not enter the
court-yard of the royal mansions in a carriage before the year 1607,
and they are indebted for the privilege to the first Duc d'Epernon, the
favourite of the late king, Henry III., who being wont to go every day
to play with the queen, Marie de Medicis, took it into his head to have
his carriage driven into the court-yard of the Louvre, and had himself
carried bodily by his footmen into the very chamber of the queen--under
the pretext of being dreadfully tormented with the gout, so as not to be
able to stand on his legs.'(52)

(52) Mem. Hist. iii.

It is said, however, that Henry IV. was finally cured of gambling.
_Credat Judaeus!_ But the anecdote is as follows. The king lost an
immense sum at play, and requested Sully to let him have the money to
pay it. The latter demurred, so that the king had to send to him several
times. At last, however, Sully took him the money, and spread it out
before him on the table, exclaiming--'There's the sum.' Henry fixed
his eyes on the vast amount. It is said to have been enough to purchase
Amiens from the Spaniards, who then held it. The king thereupon
exclaimed:--'I am corrected. I will never again lose my money at
gaming.'

During this reign Paris swarmed with gamesters. Then for the first time
were established _Academies de Jeu_, 'Gaming Academies