SPA.


`The gambling houses of Spa are in the Redoute, where _Rouge et
Noir_ and _Roulette_ are carried on nearly from morning to night.

The profits of these establishments exceed L40,000 a year. In
former times they belonged to the Bishop of Liege, who was a
partner in the concern, and derived a considerable revenue from
his share of the ill-gotten gains of the manager of the
establishment, and no gambling tables could be set up without his
permission.'[76]


[76] Murray's Handbook for Travellers on the Continent.


`The gambling in Spa is in a lower style than elsewhere. The
croupiers seem to be always on the look-out for cheating. You
never see here a pile of gold or bank notes on the table, as at
Hombourg or Wiesbaden, with the player saying, "Cinquante louis
aux billet," "Cent-vingt louis a la masse," and the
winnings scrupulously paid, or the losings raked carefully away
from the heap. They do not allow that at Spa; there is an order
against it on the wall. They could not trust the people that
play, I suppose, and it is doubtful if the people could trust the
croupiers. The ball spins more slowly at _Roulette_--the
cards are dealt more gingerly at _Trente-et-quarante_ here than