hers were compelled to disgorge their
gains--although they stoutly and, it must be admitted, consistently
appealed to the sanction of the court.

Oddly enough, whilst the government made all France play at this John
Law game--the most seductive and voracious that ever existed--some
thirty or forty persons were imprisoned for having broken the laws
enacted against games of chance!

It may be somewhat consolatory to know that the author of so much
calamity did not long enjoy his share of the infernal success--the
partition of a people's ruin. After extorting so many millions, this
famous gambler was reduced to the necessity of selling his last diamond
in order to raise money to gamble on.

This great catastrophe, the commotion of which was felt even in Holland
and in England, was the last sigh of true honour among the French.
Probity received a blow. Public morality was abashed. More gaming houses
than ever were opened, and then it was that they received the name of
_Enfers_, or 'Hells,' by which they were designated in England. 'The
greater number of those who go to the watering-places,' writes a
contemporary, 'under the pretext of health, only go after gamesters.
In the States-general it is less the interest of the people than the
attraction of terrible gambling, that brings together a portion of the
nobility. The nature of the play may be inferred from the name of the
place at which it takes place in one of the provinces--namely, _Enfer_.
This salon, so appropriately called, was in the Hotel of the king's
commissioners in Bretagne. I have been told that a gentleman, to the
great disgust of the noblemen present, and even of the bankers, actually
offered to stake his sword.

'This name of _Enfers_ has been given to several gaming houses, some
them situated in the interior of Paris, others in the environs.

'People no longer blush, as did Caligula, at gambling on their return
from the funeral of their relatives or friends. A gamester, returning
from the burial of his brother, where he had exhibited the signs of
profound grief, played and won a considerable sum of money. "How do you
feel now?" he was asked. "A little better," he replied, "this consoles
me."

'All is excitement whilst I write. Without mentioning the base deeds
that have been committed, I have counted four suicides and a great
crime.

'Besides the licensed gaming houses, new ones are furtively established
in the privileged mansions of the ambassador