The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-15

count pushed open the door, and they entered the

The game was already IN full activity, and the
play very high; the table strewed with the snowy
Spanish cards, on which, instead of the spades and
diamonds familiar to most European cardplayers,
and vases, sabres and horses were depicted in
al guard, and dry, snufy old marquis, held the
bank, which had been very successful. Large
piles of ounces and of four and eight dollar pieces
were on the green cloth before them, as well as a
roll of paper nearly treble the value of the specie.
Twenty and thirty players were congregated round
the table, while few unfortunates, whose pockets
had already been emped, were solacing themselves
with their cigars, and occasionally indulging in an
oath or inpatient stamp of the foot when they saw
card come up which they would certainly have
backed-had they had money SO to do. Two or
three iders sitting the low sills of the long
French windows, reading newspapers and enjoying
the fragrance of the flowers-protected from the
reflected glare of the opposite houses, on which the
sun was darng its rays, by awnings ofstrped linen
that fell from above the windows, and hung over
the outside of the small semi-circular balconies.
After standing for few minutes at the table, and
stalking doubloon, which he instantly lost Rafael
Solano took up paper and threw himself into an
arm chair, while Valeja remained watching with
keen attention the various fluctuations of the card
For some time he did not join the game, rather to
the astonlshment the other players, who were
customed to see him stake his money, as soon as he
entered the room with an unhesitatng boldness and
confidence. Half an hour passed in this manner,
aud the presence of Vallejo beginning to be for
gotten, when he suddenly threw heavy roleau of
gold from his pocket and placed it upon card.
The game went on; Valeja lost, and with his usual
sang trOiI saw his stake thrown into the bank.
Another followed and third, and fourth. In
four coups he had lost thee thousand dollars Still
not sign of excitement or discompoSure appeared
upon the handsome countenance of the Mexican;
only an officer who was standing by him observed,
that packof the thin Spanish cards, which he had
teen holding in his hands, fell to the ground, torn
completely in half by one violent wrench.
The four high stakes so boldly played and so
rapidly lost, riveted the observation of the gamblers
upon Valleja's proceedings Every body crowded
round the table, and even the slight buzz OF convcr-
satan that had before been heard, totally ceased.
His attention attracted by his sudden stiffness, Raa
el rose from his chair and joined his friend. A
glance at the increased wealth of the bank and the
cagerness with which all seemed to be awaiting
Vallejas movements, made him conjecture what
had occurred.
"You have lost said he to the count, "and
heavily, fear. Come, that will do for to-day.
Let US go''
''Psha.' replied the Mexican, "a mere trifle,
which you shall see me win back" And then
turning to the banker, who was just commencing
deal,
"Copo," said he, 'the king agaius. the ace'
For the uninitiated in the mysteries of monte,
it may be necessary to state, that by utterng these
words vaIleja bound himself if an ace came up be-
fore king, TO pay an equal amount to that in the
bank, as well as all the winnings of those who had
backed the ace If, on the other hand, the king
won, the whole capital of the bank was his, as well
as the stakes of those who bet against him.
There was general murmur of astonshment.
The bank was the largest that had been seen in that
room since certain memorable night, when Ferd-
nand himself, being out upon one of his nocturnal
frocs in which he so much delighted, had come up
in disguise with officer of his household and had
lost sum that had greatly advantaged the bankers,
and sorely diminished the contents of his Catholic
Majesty's privy purse There were at least thirty
thousand dollars the table in gold and paper and
besides that, scarcely had the Mexican uttered the
name of the card he favored when, on the strength
OF his Ill luck, some of the players put down nearly
as much more against it. The two bankers looked at
each other; the guard,man shrugged his shoulders
and elevated his eyebrows. Both movements were
SO sightas tobe scarcely perceptble; but they were
nevertheless, exceenty well observed and under
stood by his partner, the high-dried old Marquis,
sitting opposite to him, who laid the pack of cards
upon the table, their face to the cloth, and after
placing piece of money on them to prevent their
being disturbed by any chance puff of wind, opened
his gold box, and took prodigious pinch of snuff
Having done this with much deliberaion, he let
his hands fall upon his knees, and lent back to his
chair with countenance expressive of nexhaust-
able patience. The players waited for nearly
minute, but then began to grow impatient of de-
lay At the first question put to the Marquis,
as to its motive, he waived his hand towards VAL
leja.
81 am waiting for the Senor Conde," said he.
"For me!" replied Valeja. ''It is unnecessa-
ry"
"There were about twenty thousand dollars in
the bank, J" said the Marquis, leaning forward, and
affecting to count the roeaus lying before him, and
some eight thousand staked by these gentlemen
Willyour Senoria be pleased to place similar sum
upon the tablet"
Several of the gamblers exchanged significant
glances and half smiles. The rule of the game
required the player who endeavored, as Valleja was
doing, to annhiate the bank at one fell swoop, to
produce sum equal to- that which he had chance
Of carrying off AT the same time, In societies
like this one, where the players were all more or
less, known to each other,-al men of rank, name
and fortune,-it was not usual to play this sort of