d Stravendale, before
he was of age, one night lost eleven thousand pounds, but nothing
daunted he played again, and as luck would have it got it all back at
one hazard. He lamented he had not made the stakes larger, and said if
he had been playing deep he might have made a million. It was really
very clever in Stravendale."

Again his lordship laughed, but Miss Newville could not see anything
in the narrative to cause her to smile.

"There is Charley Fox," Lord Upperton continued, "who goes in rather
strong. He makes grand speeches in the Commons; but almost always gets
fleeced at Almack's. The Jews, who are usually on hand in one of the
outside rooms with their shekels, waiting to lend money, charge
exorbitant interest. Charley calls it the Jerusalem Chamber. Sometimes
he gets completely cleaned out, and has to borrow a guinea to pay the
waiter who brings him his brandy. One night at the beginning he won
eight thousand pounds, but before morning lost the last sixpence."

"Do ladies play?" Miss Newville asked.

"Certainly; they love gaming as well as the men. Her royal highness
the Duchess of Cumberland not long ago set up card playing and gaming
in her drawing-rooms. Her sister, Lady Elizabeth Lutterell, is one of
the best gamesters in London. It is whispered, though, that she cheats
on the sly. Lady Essex gives grand card parties, where there is high
gaming. One lady, whom I know, lost three thousand guineas at loo. It
is whispered that two ladies, not long since, had high words at one of
Lady Essex's parties; that they rode out to St. Pancras and fought a
duel with pistols, and that one was wounded; which shows that our
noble women have real grit."

"Is what you are saying a fair picture of life among the nobility?"
Ruth asked.

"I would not have you think, Miss Newville, that everybody of noble
birth or high position is a gambler, but every one who plays, of
course, wants a stake of some kind."

"Pardon me, my lord, but I do not see any fun in losing money in the
way you speak of."

"Well, perhaps there isn't any fun in losing, but it is real jolly
when you win. It is like drinking wine; it warms you up."

"Do you have any other recreations equally attractive and delightful?"
Miss Newville inquired.

"We have gay times at the Derby during the races. Of course you have
felt the excitement of a horse-race, Miss Newville?"

"No, for we do not have horse-racing here; but I believe they do in
Virginia."