bable that we shall meet again, my Lord. I wished to know what
gaming was. I had heard a great deal about it. It is not so very
disgusting; but I am a young man, and cannot play tricks with my
complexion."

'He reached his house. The Bird was out. He gave orders for himself not
to be disturbed, and he went to bed; but in vain he tried to sleep. What
rack exceeds the torture of an excited brain and an exhausted body? His
hands and feet were like ice, his brow like fire; his ears rung with
supernatural roaring; a nausea had seized upon him, and death he would
have welcomed. In vain, in vain he courted repose; in vain he had
recourse to every expedient to wile himself to slumber. Each minute he
started from his pillow with some phrase which reminded him of his late
fearful society. Hour after hour moved on with its leaden pace; each
hour he heard strike, and each hour seemed an age. Each hour was only
a signal to cast off some covering, or shift his position. It was, at
length, morning. With a feeling that he should go mad if he remained any
longer in bed, he rose, and paced his chamber. The air refreshed him.
He threw himself on the floor, the cold crept over his senses, and he
slept.'(13)

(13) 'The Young Duke,' by B. Disraeli, chapter VIII. This gambling
is the turning-point in the young duke's career; he proves himself
at length not unworthy of his noble ancestry arm his high hereditary
position,--takes his place in the Senate, and weds the maiden of his
love.

CHAPTER IV. ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF GAMBLERS.

The history of all nations is but the record of their cupidity; and when
the fury of gaming appears on the scene, it has never failed to double
the insolence and atrocities of tyranny.

The atrocious gambling of the Hindoo Rajas has been related;(14) and I
have incidentally adverted to similar concomitants of the vice among
all nations. I now propose to bring together a series of facts specially
elucidative of the harrowing theme.

(14) Chapter II.

One of the Ptolemys, kings of Egypt, required all causes to be submitted
to him whilst at play, and pronounced even sentence of death according
to chance. On one occasion his wife, Berenice, pronounced thereanent
those memorable words:--'There cannot be too much deliberation when
the death of a man is concerned'--afterwards adopted by Juvenal--Nulla
unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa est.(15)

(15) Aelian, Var. Hist. lib. XLIV.