and very old."

'Hereupon the porter brought the senator into a corner, fumbled the note
out of his fob, and, placing it in his hands, whispered, "Shure, I know
it's yours, and here it is; but (looking cautiously round) wasn't it
lucky that none of the jintlemin found it?"

'Another establishment much patronized in those days was in Nassau
Street, where early in the evening unlimited Loo, never under "three and
three," sometimes "six and six," might be indulged in, while a little
later Roulette formed the attraction of an adjacent room, and still
later at night all flocked down-stairs to the hot supper and rattling
English Hazard. For one or two seasons St Stephen's Green lent one of
its lordly mansions, formerly the residence of a cruel and witty Lord
Chief Justice, to the votaries of fortune; here everything was done
in grand style, with gilded saloons, obsequious waiters, and champagne
suppers. All this has long since become matter of the past, and it would
now puzzle the keenest detective to find the trace even of a silver hell
in the Irish capital. No one will be hardy enough to defend the vice
of gambling, but some have argued, and not without truth, that if a man
will play it is far better for him to indulge the propensity at Hombourg
or Baden, where he cannot lose more money than he has with him, than
to do so in the cozy club-room of a private "salon," where indulgent
friends may tempt him to become bankrupt not only in fortune but in
reputation.'

Passing over other less important games, called Biribi, and Kraps
(played with dice), we come to Passe-Dix, which seems to demand some
notice.

PASSE-DIX.

This game, considered the most ancient of all games of chance, is said
to have actually been made use of by the executioners at the crucifixion
of our Saviour, when they 'parted his garments, casting lots,' Matt.
xxvii. 35.

It is played with three dice. There is always a banker, and the number
of players is unlimited. Each gamester holds the box by turns, and the
other players follow his chance; every time he throws a point UNDER ten
he, as well as the other players, loses the entire stakes, which go
to the banker. Every time he throws a point ABOVE ten (or PASSES
TEN--whence the name of the game), the banker must double the player's
stakes and the stakes of all those who have risked their money on the
same chance. When the game is played by many together, each gamester is
banker in his turn.

PUT.

T