When I spend my money I like to enjoy the full value of it: I see no fun in wasting it on thieves and blacklegs; and as for gaining money, hitherto I have always had sufficient; it's time enough to be clutching for more, I think, when you begin to see the end of what you have.

But I have sometimes frequented the gaming-houses just to watch the on-goings of those mad votaries of chance--a very interesting study, I assure you, Helen, and sometimes very diverting: I've had many a laugh at the boobies and bedlamites.

Lowborough was quite infatuated--not willingly, but of necessity,--he was always resolving to give it up, and always breaking his resolutions.

Every venture was the 'just once more:' if he gained a little, he hoped to gain a little more next time, and if he lost, it would not do to leave off at that juncture; he must go on till he had retrieved that last misfortune, at least: bad luck could not last for ever; and every lucky hit was looked upon as the dawn of better times, till experience proved the contrary.

At length he grew desperate, and we were daily on the look-out for a case of _felo-de-se_--no great matter, some of us whispered, as his existence had ceased to be an acquisition to our club.