The Hon. George T--, who used to arrive from London with a very considerable
letter of credit expressly to try his luck at the Salon des Etrangers,
at length contrived to lose his last shilling at rouge et noir. When
he had lost everything he possessed in the world, he got up and exclaimed,
in an excited manner, "If I had Canova's Venus and Adonis from Alton
Towers, my uncle's country seat, it should be placed on the rouge, for
black has won fourteen times running!"

The late Henry Baring was more fortunate at hazard than his countryman,
but his love of gambling was the cause of his being excluded from the
banking establishment. Col. Sowerby, of the Guards, was one of the
most inveterate players in Paris; and, as is frequently the case with
a fair player, a considerable loser. But, perhaps, the most incurable
gamester amongst the English was Lord Thanet, whose income was not less
than 50,000£. a year, every farthing of which he lost at play. Cuthbert
dissipated the whole of his fortune in like manner. In fact, I do not
remember any instance where those who spent their time in this den did
not lose all they possessed.

The Marquis de L-- had a charming villa at Romainville, near Paris,
to which, on Sundays, he invited not only those gentlemen who were the
most prodigal patrons of his salon, but a number of ladies, who were
dancers and singers conspicuous at the opera; forming a society of the
strangest character, the male portion of which were bent on losing their
money, whilst the ladies were determined to get rid of whatever virtue
they might still have left. The dinners on these occasions were supplied
by the chef of the Salon des Etrangers, and were such as few renommes
of the kitchens of France could place upon the table.