looked about for a
match for the redoubtable French gamester, and soon got information of
a party who might serve his turn. This was a midshipman at Moscow, named
Cruckoff, who, he was assured, was without an equal in the MANAGEMENT of
cards, and the knowledge of Quizze--then the fashionable court game--and
that at which the Duke of Biran had lost his money. The chancellor
immediately despatched a courier to Moscow to fetch the Russian
gamester.

The midshipman was forthwith made an ensign of the Guards, in order to
entitle him to play at court. He set to work at once in accordance with
his instructions, but after his own plan in the execution. He began
with losing freely; and was, of course, soon noticed by the marquis, and
marked as a pigeon worth plucking. The young Russian, however, forced
him into high play, and he lost the greater part of his former gain.
The marquis got nettled, lost his self-command, and proposed a monstrous
stake, to the extent of his credit and gains, of which he thought he
might make himself sure by some master-stroke of art. Accordingly, by
means of a sleight, he managed to hold fifteen in hand, but his wily
antagonist was equal to the occasion: by the aid of some sweetmeats from
an adjoining table he SWALLOWED a card, and, being first in hand, the
chance was determined in his favour, and he ruined the marquis.

Once more the chancellor waited on the duke, and plainly told him that
he had been anxious to guard him against the French gamester, purposely
sent to fleece him, if he had had the patience to hear him. The duke
then became outrageous, and wished to arrest the Frenchman as a cheat;
but Osterman coolly said he had punished him in kind; and, producing a
large bag, returned the duke's money, bidding him in future not to be so
impatient when information was to be communicated by gouty persons.

The clever ensign was allowed to retain the rest of the spoil, with an
injunction, however, never to touch a card again, unless he wished to
end his days among the exiles of Siberia.

A PENITENT SONNET.

written by the Lord Fitz-Gerald(29) (a great gamester) a little before
his death, which was in the year 1580.

(29) This Lord Fitzgerald was eldest son to the Earl of Kildare, and
died at the age of twenty-one.

'By loss in play, men oft forget
The duty they do owe
To Him that did bestow the same,
And thousand millions moe.

'I loath to hear them swear and st