you
need not play--you can look on. It will serve to divert your thoughts,
at all events."

I felt so anxious to avoid reflection, that I immediately accepted his
offer; and, in a few minutes, we were in the well-lighted room, and in
front of the _rouge et noir_ table, covered with gold and bank notes.
Atkinson did not commence his play immediately, but pricked the chances
on a card as they ran. After half an hour he laid down his stakes, and
was fortunate. I could no longer withstand the temptation, and I backed
him; in less than an hour we both had won considerably.

"That is enough," said he to me, sweeping up his money; "we must not try
the slippery dame too long."

I followed his example, and shortly afterwards we quitted the house. "I
will walk home with you, Newland: never, if you can help it, especially
if you have been a winner, leave a gaming house alone."

Going home, I asked Atkinson if he would come up; he did so, and then we
examined our winnings. "I know mine," replied he, "within twenty
pounds, for I always leave off at a certain point. I have three hundred
pounds, and something more."

He had won three hundred and twenty-five pounds. I had won ninety
pounds. As we sat over a glass of brandy and water, I inquired whether
he was always fortunate. "No, of course I am not," replied Atkinson;
"but on the whole, in the course of the year, I am a winner of
sufficient to support myself."

"Is there any rule by which people are guided who play? I observed many
of those who were seated pricking the chances with great care, and then
staking their money at intervals."

"_Rouge et noir_ I believe to be the fairest of all games," replied
Atkinson; "but where there is a percentage invariably in favour of the
bank, although one may win and another lose, still the profits must be
in favour of the bank. If a man were to play all the year round, he
would lose the national debt in the end. As for martingales, and all
those calculations, which you observed them so busy with, they are all
useless. I have tried everything, and there is only one chance of
success, but then you must not be a gambler."

"Not a gambler?"

"No; you must not be carried away by the excitement of the game, or you
will infallibly lose. You must have a strength of mind which few have,
or you will be soon cleaned out."

"But you say that you win on the whole: have you no rule to guide you?"

"Yes, I have: strange as the chanc