he caster
took the box again and threw nine,--and so Mr Ogden won his guinea!(56)
In this case there seems to have been no suspicion whatever of unfair
dice being used.

(56) Seymour Harcourt, The Gaming Calendar.

3. 'In a game of chance, the oftener the same combination has occurred
in succession, the nearer we are to the certainty that it will not recur
at the next cast or turn up. This is the most elementary of the theories
on probabilities; it is termed the MATURITY OF THE CHANCES.'

'Hence,' according to this great authority, 'a player must come to the
table not only "in luck," but he must not risk his money excepting at
the instant prescribed by the rules of the maturity of the chances.'

Founded on this theory we have the following precepts for gamesters:--

1. 'For gaming, prefer Roulette, because it presents several ways of
staking your money(57)--which permits the study of several.

(57) 'Pair, impair, passe, manque, and the 38 numbers of the Roulette,
besides the different combinations of POSITION' and 'maturities'
together.

2. 'A player should approach the gaming table perfectly calm and
cool--just as a merchant or tradesman in treaty about any affair.

If he gets into a passion, it is all over with prudence, all over with
good luck--for the demon of bad luck invariably pursues a passionate
player.

3. 'Every man who finds a pleasure in playing runs the risk of losing.

4. 'A prudent player, before undertaking anything, should put himself
to the test to discover if he is "in vein"--in luck. In all doubt, you
should abstain.'

I remember a curious incident in my childhood, which seems much to
the point of this axiom. A magnificent gold watch and chain were given
towards the building of a church, and my mother took three chances,
which were at a very high figure, the watch and chain being valued at
more than L100. One of these chances was entered in my name, one in my
brother's, and the third in my mother's. I had to throw for her as well
as myself. My brother threw an insignificant figure; for myself I did
the same; but, oddly enough, I refused to throw for my mother on
finding that I had lost my chance, saying that I should wait a little
longer--rather a curious piece of prudence for a child of thirteen. The
raffle was with three dice; the majority of the chances had been thrown,
and 34 was the highest. After declining to throw I went on throwing
the dice for amusement, and was surprised t