callous indifference, which all practised players endeavour to
assume. She trembled, till her shaking hand could hardly grasp
the instrument with which she pushed or withdrew her pieces; the
dew of agony stood upon her wrinkled brow; yet, hour after hour,
and day after day, she too sat in the enchanted chair. I
never saw age and station in a position so utterly beyond the
pale of respect. I was assured she was a person of rank; and my
informant added, but I trust she was mistaken, that she was an
_ENGLISH_ woman.'[102]


[102] Belgium and Western Germany, in 1833.


GAMING HOUSES KEPT BY LADIES.


There is no doubt that during the last half of the last century
many titled ladies not only gambled, but kept gaming houses.
There is even evidence that one of them actually appealed to the
House of Lords for protection against the intrusion of the peace
officers into her establishment in Covent Garden, on the plea of
her Peerage! All this is proved by a curious record found in the
Journals of the House of Lords, by the editor of the
_Athenaeum_. It is as follows:--

`Die Lunae, 29 Aprilis, 1745.--_Gaming_. A Bill for
preventing the excessive and deceitful use of it having been
brought from the Commons, and proceeded on so far as to be agreed
to in a Committee of the whole House with amendments,--