0 florins, or
L14,000.

'The very name of Aix-la-Chapelle,' says a traveller, 'makes one think
(at least, makes me think) of cards and dice,--sharks and pigeons.
It has a "professional odour" upon it, which is certainly not that of
sanctity. I entered the Redoute with my head full of sham barons, German
Catalinas, and the thousand-and-one popular tales of renowned knights of
the green cloth,--their seducing confederates, and infatuated dupes.

'The rooms are well distributed; the saloons handsome. A sparkling of
ladies, apparently (and really, as I understood) of the best water, the
_elite_, in short, of Aix-la-Chapelle, were lounging on sofas placed
round the principal saloon, or fluttering about amidst a crowd of men,
who filled up the centre of the room, or thronged round the tables that
were ranged on one side of it.

'The players continued their occupation in death-like silence,
undisturbed by the buzz or the gaze of the lookers-on; not a sound was
heard but the rattle of the heaped-up money, as it was passed from one
side of the table to the other; nor was the smallest anxiety or emotion
visible on any countenance.

'The scene was unpleasing, though to me curious from its novelty.

Ladies are admitted to play, but there were none occupied this morning.
I was glad of it; indeed, though English travellers are accused of
carrying about with them a portable code of morality, which dissolves or
stiffens like a soap-cake as circumstances may affect its consistency,
yet I sincerely believe that there are few amongst us who would not
feel shocked at seeing one of the gentler sex in so unwomanly a
position.'(82)

(82) Reminiscences of the Rhine, &c. Anon.

WIESBADEN.

The gambling here in 1868 has been described in a very vivid manner.

'Since the enforcement of the Prussian Sunday observance regulations,
Monday has become the great day of the week for the banks of the German
gambling establishments. Anxious to make up for lost time, the regular
contributors to the company's dividends flock early on Monday forenoon
to the play-rooms in order to secure good places at the tables, which,
by the appointed hour for commencing operations (eleven o'clock), are
closely hedged round by persons of both sexes, eagerly waiting for the
first deal of the cards or the initial twist of the brass wheel, that
they may try another fall with Fortune. Before each seated player are
arranged precious little piles of gold and sil