es each, declaring that he gave them
up to the players without any condition except to return them when they
pleased.(26)

(26) Mem. de Jeu M. le Duc d'Orleans.

This Duc de Lerme was at least a great lord, and the army which he
commanded may have warranted his extravagance; but what are we to think
when we find the base and mean-spirited Fouquet giving himself the
same princely airs? During certain festivities prepared for Louis XIV.,
Fouquet placed in the room of every courtier of the king's suite, a
purse of gold for gambling, in case any of them should be short of
money. Well might Duclos remark that 'Nobody was shocked at this
MAGNIFICENT SCANDAL!(27)

(27) Consideration sur les Moeeurs.

They tell of a certain lordly gamester who looked upon any money that
fell from his hands as lost, and would never stoop to pick it up! This
reminds us of the freedman Pallas mentioned by Tacitus, who wrote down
what he had to say to his slaves, lest he should degrade his voice to
their level--ne vocem consociaret!(28)

(28) Ann. l. xiii

AN INSINUATING, ELEGANT GAMESTER.

Osterman, Grand Chancellor of Russia, during the reign of the Empress
Anne, obtained information that the court of Versailles had formed a
scheme to send an insinuating, elegant gamester, to attack the Duke of
Biran on his weak side--a rage for play--and thereby probably gain some
political advantage over him.

The chancellor called on the duke to make the necessary communication,
but the minister did not choose to be at home. The chancellor, then
pretending to be suffering from a severe fit of gout, wrote to his
sovereign, stating that he had important matter to reveal, but was
unable to move, and the Duke of Biran was consequently ordered to wait
on him by the empress. Osterman, affecting great pain, articulated with
apparent difficulty these words--'The French are sending a gamester!'
Thereupon the duke withdrew in a pet, and represented to the empress
that the chancellor was delirious from the gout, and had really nothing
to communicate.

The subject had long been forgotten by the duke, when an elegant, easy,
dissipated marquis actually arrived. He had extensive credit on a house
of the English Factory, and presently insinuated himself into the good
graces of the duke, whom he soon eased of all his superfluous cash.

The chancellor became alarmed for the consequences, and resolved to try
and play off the French for their clever finesse. He