other. He desired to know whether I came from the army in Piedmont; and
having told him I was going thither, he asked me, whether I had a mind
to buy any horses; that he had about two hundred to dispose of, and that
he would sell them cheap. I began to be smoked like a gammon of
bacon; and being quite wearied out, both with their tobacco and their
questions, I asked my companion if he would play for a single pistole
at backgammon, while our men were supping; it was not without great
ceremony that he consented, at the same time asking my pardon for his
great freedom.

"I won the game; I gave him his revenge, and won again. We then played
double or quit; I won that too, and all in the twinkling of an eye; for
he grew vexed, and suffered himself to be taken in so that I began to
bless my stars for my good fortune. Brinon came in about the end of the
third game, to put me to bed, he made a great sign of the cross, but
paid no attention to the signs I made him to retire. I was forced to
rise to give him that order in private. He began to reprimand me for
disgracing myself by keeping company with such a low-bred wretch. It
was in vain that I told him he was a great merchant, that he had a great
deal of money, and that he played like a child. 'He a merchant,' cried
Brinon. 'Do not believe that, sir! May the devil take me, if he is not
some conjurer.' 'Hold your tongue, old fool,' said I; 'he is no more a
conjurer than you are, and that is decisive; and, to prove it to you, I
am resolved to win four or five hundred pistoles of him before I go to
bed. With these words I turned him out, strictly enjoining him not to
return, or in any manner to disturb us.

"The game being done, the little Swiss unbuttoned his pockets, to pull
out a new four-pistole piece, and presenting it to me, he asked my
pardon for his great freedom, and seemed as if he wished to retire. This
was not what I wanted. I told him we only played for amusement; that I
had no design upon his money; and that, if he pleased, I would play
him a single game for his four pistoles. He raised some objections; but
consented at last, and won back his money. I was piqued at it. I played
another game; fortune changed sides; the dice ran for him, he made
no more blots. I lost the game; another game, and double or quit; we
doubled the stake, and played double or quit again. I was vexed; he,
like a true gamester, took every bet I offered, and won all before him,
without my getti