“The game being done, the little Swiss unbuttoned his pockets, to pull out a new four-pistole piece, and presenting it to me, he asked my pardon for his great freedom, and seemed as if he wished to retire.  This was not what I wanted.  I told him we only played for amusement; that I had no design upon his money; and that, if he pleased, I would play him a single game for his four pistoles.  He raised some objections; but consented at last, and won back his money.  I was piqued at it.  I played another game; fortune changed sides; the dice ran for him, he made no more blots.  I lost the game; another game, and double or quit; we doubled the stake, and played double or quit again.  I was vexed; he, like a true gamester, took every bet I offered, and won all before him, without my getting more than six points in eight or ten games.  I asked him to play a single game for one hundred pistoles; but as he saw I did not stake, he told me it was late; that he must go and look after his horses; and went away, still asking my pardon for his great freedom.  The cool manner of his refusal, and the politeness with which he took his leave, provoked me to such a degree, that I could almost have killed him.  I was so confounded at losing my money so fast, even to the last pistole, that I did not immediately consider the miserable situation to which I was reduced.

“I durst not go up to my chamber for fear of Brinon.  By good luck, however, he was tired with waiting for me, and had gone to bed.  This was some consolation, though but of short continuance.  As soon as I was laid down, all the fatal consequences of my adventure presented themselves to my imagination.  I could not sleep.  I saw all the horrors of my misfortune, without being able to find any remedy; in vain did I rack my brain; it supplied me with no expedient.  I feared nothing so much as daybreak; however, it did come, and the cruel Brinon along with it.  He was booted up to the middle, and cracking a cursed whip, which he held in his hand, ‘Up, Monsieur le Chevalier,’ cried he, opening the curtains; ’the horses are at the door, and you are still asleep.  We ought by this time to have ridden two stages; give me money to pay the reckoning.’  ‘Brinon,’ said I, in a dejected tone, ‘draw the curtains.’  ‘What!’ cried he, ’draw the curtains!  Do you intend, then, to make your campaign at Lyons? you seem to have taken a liking to the place.  And for the great merchant, you have stripped him, I suppose?  No, no, Monsieur le Chevalier, this money will never do you any good.  This wretch has, perhaps, a family; and it is his children’s bread that he has been playing with, and that you have won.  Was this an object to sit up all night for?  What would my lady say, if she knew what a life you lead?’ ‘M.  Brinon,’ said I, ‘pray draw the curtains.’  But instead of obeying me, one would have thought that the devil had prompted him to use the most pointed and galling terms to a person under such misfortunes.  ’And how much have you won?’ said he; ’five hundred pistoles? what must the poor man do?