een
Government powder.' See Gilchrist, Ordeals, Millingen, Hist. of
Duelling, ii., and Steinmetz, Romance of Duelling, ii.

The following are authentic anecdotes of Fox, as a gambler.

Fox had a gambling debt to pay to Sir John Slade. Finding himself in
cash, after a lucky run at Faro, he sent a complimentary card to the
knight, desiring to discharge the claim. Sir John no sooner saw the
money than he called for pen and ink, and began to figure. 'What now?'
cried Fox. 'Only calculating the interest,' replied the other. 'Are you
so?' coolly rejoined Charles James, and pocketed the cash, adding--'I
thought it was a _debt of honour_. As you seem to consider it a trading
debt, and as I make it an invariable rule to pay my Jew-creditors last,
you must wait a little longer for your money.'

Fox once played cards with Fitzpatrick at Brookes' from ten o'clock at
night till near six o'clock the next morning--a waiter standing by to
tell them 'whose deal it was'--they being too sleepy to know.

On another occasion he won about L8000; and one of his bond-creditors,
who soon heard of his good luck, presented himself and asked for
payment. 'Impossible, sir,' replied Fox; 'I must first discharge my
debts of honour.' The bond-creditor remonstrated, and finding Fox
inflexible, tore the bond to pieces and flung it into the fire,
exclaiming--'Now, sir, your debt to me is a _debt of honour_.' Struck by
the creditor's witty rejoinder, Fox instantly paid the money.(127)

(127) The above is the version of this anecdote which I remember as
being current in my young days. Mr Timbs and others before him relate
the anecdote as follows:--'On another occasion he won about L8000; and
one of his bond-creditors, who soon heard of his good luck, presented
himself and asked for payment.'

'Impossible, sir,' replied Fox 'I must first discharge my debts of
honour.' The bond-creditor remonstrated. 'Well, sir, give me your bond.'
It was delivered to Fox, who tore it in pieces and threw it into the
fire. 'Now, sir,' said Fox, 'my debt to you is a debt of honour;' and
immediately paid him.

Now, it is evident that Fox could not destroy the document without
rendering himself still more 'liable' in point of law. I submit that
the version in the text is the true one, conforming with the legal
requirement of the case and influencing the debtor by the originality of
the performance of the creditor.

Amidst the wildest excesses of youth, even while