een at Jena, came to
my room with a brilliant proposition. We should go to Frankfort and hear
Jenny Lind sing in her great _role_ of Norma. I had already heard her
sing in concert in Heidelberg--where, by the way, the students rushed
into her room as soon as she had left, and tore to strips the bed in
which she had slept, and carried them away for souvenirs, to the great
amazement of an old Englishman who had just been put into the room.
(_N.B._--I was not in the party.) I objected that it was getting to the
end of the month, and that I had not money enough for such an outing. To
which he replied, that we could go on to Homburg, and make money enough
at _rouge-et-noir_ to cover all expenses. This obvious and admirable
method of raising funds had not occurred to me, so I agreed to go.

We went to Frankfort, and heard the greatly overrated Jenny Lind, and the
next day proceeded to Hamburg, and at once to the green table. Here I
lost a little, but Gruner made so much, that on returning to the table I
took from it a sufficient sum to cover all our expenses, and told him
that, come what might, it must remain untouched, and gave him the
remainder. That afternoon I played for five-franc pieces, and at one
time had both my side-pockets so full that they weighed very heavily. And
these again I lost. Then Gruner lost all his, and came imploring me for
more, but I would not give him a _kreutzer_. Matters were beginning to
look serious. I had a reserved fund of perhaps fifty napoleons, which I
kept for dire need or accidents. That evening I observed a man who had
great luck, winning twice out of three times. I watched his play, and as
soon as he lost I set a napoleon--by which I won enough to clear my
expenses, and buy me, moreover, a silver-headed cane, a gold watch-chain,
and two Swiss watches. I may mention by the way, that since that day I
have never played at anything, save losing a ten-franc piece in after
years at Wiesbaden.

There dined very often at our _table-d'hote_ in the Adler an old German
lady named Helmine von Chezy, who had a reputation as a poetess. With
her I sometimes conversed. One day she narrated in full what she
declared was the true story of Caspar Hauser. Unto her Heine had
addressed the epigram--

"Helmine von Chezy,
Geborene Klencke,
Ich bitte Sie, geh' Sie
Mit ihrer Poesie,
Sonst kriegt Sie die Kranke!"

"Helmine von Chezy,
Born Klencke, I pray
With your