For many days my mind remained in a state, of listless inanity; and Talbot applied, or suffered others to apply, the most pernicious stimulant that could be thought of to rouse me to action.  Taking a quiet walk with him, we met some friends of his; and, at their request, we agreed to go to the saloons of the Palais Royal.  This was a desperate remedy, and by a miracle only was I saved from utter and irretrievable ruin.  How many of my countrymen have fallen victims to the arts practised in that horrible school of vice, I dare not say!  Happy should I be to think that the infection had not reached our own shores, and found patrons among the great men of the land.  They have, however, both felt the consequences, and been forewarned of the danger. They have no excuse:  mine was, that I had been excluded from the society of those I loved.  Always living by excitement, was it surprising that, when a gaming-table displayed its hoards before me, I should have fallen at once into the snare?

For the first time since my illness, I became interested, and laid down my money on those abhorred tables.  My success was variable; but I congratulated myself that at length I had found a stimulus; and I anxiously awaited the return of the hour when the doors would again be opened, and the rooms lighted up for the reception of company.  I won considerably; and night after night found me at the table—­for avarice is insatiable; but my good luck left me:  and then the same motive induced me to return, with the hope of winning back what I had lost.

Still fortune was unpropitious, and I lost very considerable sums.  I became desperate; and drew largely on my father.  He wrote to beg that I would be more moderate; as twice his income would not support such an expenditure.  He wrote also to Talbot, who informed him in what manner the money had been expended; and that he had in vain endeavoured to divert me from the fatal practice.  Finding that no limits were likely to be put to my folly, my father very properly refused to honour any more of my bills.

Maddened with this intimation, for which I secretly blamed Talbot, I drew upon Eugenia’s banker bill after bill, until the sum amounted to more than what my father had paid.  At length a letter came from Eugenia.  It was but a few lines.

“I know too well, my dearest friend,” said she, “what becomes of the money you have received.  If you want it all, I cannot refuse you; but remember that you are throwing away the property of your child.”

This letter did more to rouse me to a sense of my infamous conduct than the advice of Talbot, or the admonitions of my father.  I felt I was acting like a scoundrel; and I resolved to leave off gaming.  “One night more,” said I, “and then, if I lose, there is an end of it; I go no more.”  Talbot attended me:  he felt he was in some measure the cause of my being first initiated in this pernicious amusement:  and he watched my motions with unceasing anxiety.