Having cut for partners, it fell to my lot to play with him against our friend and Strap, for threepence a game.

We were so successful, that in a short time I was half-a-crown gainer; when the gentleman whom we had met in the street observing he had no luck to-day, proposed to leave off, or change partners.

By this time I was inflamed with my good fortune and the expectation of improving it, as I perceived the two strangers played but indifferently; therefore I voted for giving him his revenge: and cutting again, Strap and I, to our mutual satisfaction, happened to be partners.

My good fortune attended me still, and in less than an hour we had got thirty shillings of their money, for as they lost they grew the keener, and doubled stakes every time.

At last the inconstant goddess began to veer about, and we were very soon stripped of all our gains, and about forty shillings of our own money.