[8] Tanta torpedo invaserat animum Vitellii, ut si principem eum
fuisse non meminissent, ipse oblivisceretur. Hist., lib. iii.


This infatuation may be simply ridiculous; but it has also a
horrible aspect. A distracted wife has rushed to the gaming
table, imploring her husband, who had for two entire days been
engaged at play, to return to his home.

'Only let me stay one moment longer--only one moment. . . . . I
shall return perhaps the day after to-morrow,' he stammered out
to the wretched woman, who retired. Alas! he returned sooner
than he had promised. His wife was in bed, holding the last of
her children to her breast.

'Get up, madam,' said the ruined gambler, 'the bed on which you
lie belongs to us no longer!' . . .

When the gamester is fortunate, he enjoys his success elsewhere;
to his home he brings only consternation.

A wife had received the most solemn promise from her husband that
he would gamble no more. One night, however, he slunk out of
bed, rushed to the gaming table, and lost all the money he had
with him. He tried to borrow more, but was refused. He went
home. His wife had taken the precaution to lock the drawer that
contained their last money. Vain obstacle! The madman broke it
open, carried off two thousand crowns--to take his revenge, as he
said, but in reality to lose the whole as before.