You must know that once upon a time, many years ago, when we lived at Vienna, I was given to card playing.

We played for high stakes in those days.

One evening not only did I lose all my cash, but had to give I.O.U.'s for 1,000 florins besides.

Debts contracted at play cannot remain unpaid for more than a couple of days.

It was absolutely indispensable that I should procure these thousand florins somehow.