astonished at what he had uttered, I could not press him for an
explanation; but, yielding to his wish, I rose up to depart. I had lost
hope. Plainly he had it not in his power to serve me.

At this moment a resource suggested itself to my mind, or rather the
forlorn hope of a resource.

I communicated it to my companion.

"I have still these two hundred dollars," said I, "They are of no more
service to me for the purchase of Aurore than if they were so many
pebbles. Suppose I try to increase the amount at the gaming-table?"

"Oh, I fear it would be an idle attempt. You would lose as before."

"That is not so certain, Monsieur. The chances at least are equal. I
need not play with men of skill, like those upon the boat. Here in New
Orleans there are gaming-houses, plenty of them, where _games of chance_
are carried on. These are of various kinds--as _faro, craps, loto_, and
_roulette_. I can choose some one of these, where bets are made on the
tossing of a die or the turning of a card. It is just as likely I may
win as lose. What say you, Monsieur? Give me your counsel."

"You speak truly," replied he. "There is a chance in the game. It
offers a hope of your winning. If you lose, you will be no worse off as
regards your intentions for to-morrow. If you win--"

"True, true--if I win--"

"You must not lose time, then. It is growing late. These gaming-houses
should be open at this hour: no doubt, they are now in the very tide of
their business. Let us find one."

"You will go with me? Thanks, Monsieur D'Hauteville!
Thanks--_allons_!"

We hastily traversed the walk that led to the entrance of the cemetery;
and, issuing from the gate, took our way back into the town.

We headed for our point of departure--the Rue Saint Louis; for I knew
that in that neighbourhood lay the principal gambling hells.

It was not difficult to find them. At that period there was no
concealment required in such matters. The gambling passion among the
Creoles, inherited from the original possessors of the city, was too
rife among all classes to be put down by a police. The municipal
authorities in the American quarter had taken some steps toward the
suppression of this vice; but their laws had no force on the French side
of Canal Street; and Creole police had far different ideas, as well as
different instructions. In the French faubourgs gaming was not
considered so hideous a crime, and the houses appropriated to