s."

'He shook my hand and went out, leaving me sitting up in the bed, trying
to remember some one circumstance of the previous night, by which I
could recall my joining the play-table. But nothing of the kind; a thick
haze was over everything, through which I could merely recollect the
spicy bishop, and my continued efforts to keep their glasses filled.
There I sat, puzzled and confused, the bed covered with bank-notes,
which after all have some confounded magic in their faces that makes our
acceptance of them a matter of far less repugnance than it ought. While
I counted over my gains, stopping every instant to think on the strange
caprices of fortune, that wouldn't afford me the gambler's pleasure
of winning, while enriching me with gain, the door opened, and in came
Crotty.

'"Not up yet! why, we start in ten minutes; didn't the waiter call you?"

'"No. I am in a state of bewilderment this whole morning-----"

'"Well, well, get clear of it for a few seconds, I advise you, and let
us settle scores----"

'"What!" cried I, laughing, "have I won from you also?"

'"No, by Jove, it's the other way. You pushed me rather sharply though,
and if I had taken all your bets I should have made a good thing of it.
As it is"--here he opened a memorandum-book and read out--"as it is,
I have only won seven hundred and twenty, and two hundred and
fifty-eight--nine hundred and seventy-eight, I believe; does not that
make it?"

'I shivered like one in the ague, and couldn't speak a word.

'"Has Jacob booked up?" asked Crotty.

'"Yes," said I, pointing to the notes on the bed, that now looked like a
brood of rattlesnakes to my eyes.

'"All right," continued he, "Jacob is a most punctilious
fellow--foolishly so, indeed, among friends. Well, what are we to say
about this--are you strong in cash just now?"

'"No," stammered I, with a sigh.

'"Well, never mind--a short bill for the balance; I'll take what's here
in part payment, and don't let the thing give you any inconvenience."

'This was done in a good off-hand way. I signed the bill which he drew
up in due form. He had a dozen stamps ready in his pocket-book. He
rolled up the banknotes carelessly, stuffed them into his coat-pocket,
and with a most affectionate hope of seeing me next day at Wiesbaden,
left the room.

'The bill is paid--I released it in less than a week. My trip to
Kreuznach just cost me seven hundred pounds, and I may be pardoned if I
never like "bishop