He told me that men who had lost all the money and jewelry they possessed, frequently, in an effort to recoup their losses, would gamble away all their outer clothing and even their shoes; and that the proprietor kept on hand a supply of linen dusters for all who were so unfortunate.  My informant went on to say that sometimes a fellow would become almost completely dressed and then, by a turn of the dice, would be thrown back into a state of semi-nakedness.  Some of them were virtually prisoners and unable to get into the streets for days at a time.  They ate at the lunch counter, where their credit was good so long as they were fair gamblers and did not attempt to jump their debts, and they slept around in chairs.  They importuned friends and winners to put them back in the game, and kept at it until fortune again smiled on them.  I laughed heartily at this, not thinking the day was coming which would find me in the same ludicrous predicament.

On passing downstairs I was told that the third and top floor of the house was occupied by the proprietor.  When we passed through the bar, I treated everybody in the room—­and that was no small number, for eight or ten had followed us down.  Then our party went out.  It was now about half past twelve, but my nerves were at such a tension that I could not endure the mere thought of going to bed.  I asked if there was no other place to which we could go; our guides said yes, and suggested that we go to the “Club.”  We went to Sixth Avenue, walked two blocks, and turned to the west into another street.  We stopped in front of a house with three stories and a basement.  In the basement was a Chinese chop-suey restaurant.  There was a red lantern at the iron gate to the area way, inside of which the Chinaman’s name was printed.  We went up the steps of the stoop, rang the bell, and were admitted without any delay.  From the outside the house bore a rather gloomy aspect, the windows being absolutely dark, but within, it was a veritable house of mirth.  When we had passed through a small vestibule and reached the hallway, we heard mingled sounds of music and laughter, the clink of glasses, and the pop of bottles.  We went into the main room and I was little prepared for what I saw.  The brilliancy of the place, the display of diamond rings, scarf-pins, ear-rings, and breast-pins, the big rolls of money that were brought into evidence when drinks were paid for, and the air of gaiety that pervaded the place, all completely dazzled and dazed me.  I felt positively giddy, and it was several minutes before I was able to make any clear and definite observations.