think that the infection had not reached our own
shores, and found patrons among the great men of the land. They have,
however, both felt the consequences and been forewarned of the danger.
_They_ have no excuse; _mine_ was, that I had been excluded from the
society of those I loved. Always living by excitement, was it
surprising that, when a gaming-table displayed its hoards before me, I
should have fallen at once into the snare?

For the first time since my illness, I became interested, and laid down
my money on those abhorred tables. My success was variable; but I
congratulated myself that at length I had found a stimulus, and I
anxiously awaited the return of the hour when the doors would again be
opened, and the rooms lighted up for the reception of company. I won
considerably; and night after night found me at the table--for avarice
is insatiable; but my good luck left me; and then the same motive
induced me to return, with the hope of winning back what I had lost.

Still fortune was unpropitious, and I lost very considerable sums. I
became desperate, and drew largely on my father. He wrote to beg that I
would be more moderate; as twice his income would not support such an
expenditure. He wrote also to Talbot, who informed him in what manner
the money had been expended; and that he had in vain endeavoured to
divert me from the fatal practice. Finding that no limits were likely
to be put to my folly, my father very properly refused to honour any
more of my bills.

Maddened with this intimation, for which I secretly blamed Talbot, I
drew upon Eugenia's banker, bill after bill, until the sum amounted to
more than what my father had paid. At length a letter came from
Eugenia: it was but a few lines.

"I know too well, my dearest friend," said she, "what becomes of the
money you have received. If you want it all, I cannot refuse you; but
remember that you are throwing away the property of your child."

This letter did more to rouse me to a sense of my infamous conduct than
the advice of Talbot, or the admonitions of my father. I felt I was
acting like a scoundrel, and I resolved to leave off gaming. "One night
more," said I, "and then, if I lose, there is an end of it; I go no
more." Talbot attended me: he felt he was in some measure the cause of
my being first initiated in this pernicious amusement: and he watched my
motions with unceasing anxiety.

The game was _rouge-et-noir_. I threw a large sum