as myself to drop the intimacy; I seldom play, never among
strangers.'

'Ah,' said he, in an accent of some bitterness, 'that resolve would
avail you little with _them; they_ can win without playing for it.'

'How so; what do you mean?'

'Have you a mind for a short story? It is my own adventure, and I can
vouch for the truth.' I assented, and he went on:--

'About a week ago, Mr. Crotty, with two others, one of whom was called
Captain Jacob, came to invite me to a little excursion to Kreuznach.
They were to go one day and return the following one. Sir Harry was to
join the party also, and they spoke of Lord Edderdale and some others.
But Wycherley only came down to the steamboat, when a messenger arrived
with a pressing letter, recalling him to Wiesbaden, and the rest never
appeared. Away we went, however, in good spirits; the day was fine, and
the sail down the Rhine, as you know, delightful We arrived at Kreuznach
to dinner, spent the evening in wandering about the pretty scenery, and
came back by moonlight to a late supper. As usual with them, cards were
produced after supper, but I had never touched a card, nor made a bet,
since my unlucky night at the Cursaal; so I merely sat by the table and
looked on at the game--of course taking that interest in it a man fond
of play cannot divest himself of--but neither counselling any party, nor
offering a bet to either side. The game gradually became interesting,
deeply so, as well from the skill of the players as the high stakes they
played for. Large sums of money changed owners, and heavy scores were
betted besides. Meanwhile, champagne was called for, and, as the night
wore on, a bowl of smoking bishop, spiced and seasoned to perfection. My
office was to fill the glasses of the party, and drink toasts with each
of them in succession, as luck inclined to this side or that.

'The excitement of play needs not wine to make it near to madness;
but with it no mania is more complete. Although but a looker-on, my
attention was bent on the game; and what with the odorous bowl of
bishop, and the long-sustained interest, the fatigue of a day more than
usually laborious, and a constitution never strong, I became so heavy
that I threw myself upon a sofa, and fell fast asleep.

'How I reached my bed and became undressed, I never knew since; but
by noon the next day I was awakened from a deep slumber, and saw Jacob
beside me.

'"Well, old fellow, you take it coolly," said he, la