_maisons de jeu_, or gambling-houses, it will not be irrelevant
to give a brief sketch of them:--

The apartments which they occupy are on the first floor, and are
very spacious. Upon ascending the staircase is an antechamber, in
which are persons called _bouledogues_ (bull-dogs), whose
office it is to prevent the entrance of certain marked individuals.
In the same room are men to receive hats, umbrellas, &c., who give
a number, which is restored upon going out.

The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with
tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called
_pontes_ (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin
to mark the _rouge_ and _noir_, or the number, in order to regulate
his game. At each end of the table is a man called _bout de table_,
who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the
table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the
reign of Louis XIV., were called _coupeurs de bourses_
(purse-cutters); they are now denominated _tailleurs_.
After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as
follows:--_Rouge gagne et couleur perd.--Rouge perd et couleur
gagne_.

At _roulette_, the _tailleurs_ are those who put the ball in
motion and announce the result.

At _passe-dix_, every time the dice are thrown, the _tailleurs_
announce how many the person playing has gained.

Opposite the _tailleur_, and on his right and left, are persons