The Grange advance., 1874-09-23
GAMBLING IN PARIS.
A Descent by the Police.

A Paris correspondent Of the London
Daily NeaVs gives the following lively
description OF a descent by the French
detectives upon private gambling
house:
We go. to the street where the
Countess - resides, but do not drive
up to her door. Our cab pulls up
round the corner Of the adjoining street,
and the five others come to a stand
still behind it. At the same time about
dozen policemen in uniform walk
quietly out of the recesses of different
doorways, where they had been stand
ing apparently waiting for US, and as
fast as TIE detectives alight from the
cabs, they get in and take their places,
drawing down the blinds, however, so
that no crowd may be attracted by
their appearance. From this moment
no time is lost-everything is done at
post pace. NJ. Claude leading the way,
the agents drop behind in the order Of
their riding, and it is understood that
the last two are to remain on the pave
ment outside the house; the following
pair on the first flight of stairs, while
the remaining five will accompany NJ!
Claude wherever he goes, but always
keeping their places in couples and re-
naming about yard separate from
other pairs, 50 that there may be no
crowding or confusion. He would be
clever gambler who could break through
such an array of sentinels; and not one
of those in the house does break
through it. They are destined to be
caught, every one of them.
The first to fail into the net is the
well dressed and pompous concierge. In
answer to the bell he has pulled the
door chain; the door has clicked open,
and before he can recover from his sur
prise this janitor has seen eight men
walk coo]ly past his lodge without
deigning to notice him. 1t is only on
the arrival Of the ninth and tenth, who
are to keep watch in the vestibule, that
be learns he is a prisoner, and must
neither stir from his place nor raise a
cry unless he would pass his night at
the Prefecture. The second victim is a
footman in black clothes. who is carry
ng tray of wineglasses up the stair
case. An expressive thoug h mute ges.
ture from NJ. Claude causes him almost
to drop his tray in horror; but he turns
back without word, sinks down pale
and abashed, and becomes the prey Of
the two agents who are to mount guard
on the stairs. Up we go over the thick
pile of carpets, past the groups Of stat
uary and flowers in the corners Of the
landing. past wall panels beauti-
fully painted with subjects a
la Watteau, and Illuminated
by the soft light falling from globes Of
tinted glass, and thus to the second
fight preceding the first floor. On the
landing of the first floor, however, sits
a footman in charge of hats and clothes
brushes, and on catching sight Of M.
Claude he springs up, wrenches open
the drawing-room door, and can be
heard shouting in voice that cracks
right through the middle from emotion,
La Rousse'' Anglice, "The Peel
ers!') BY this warning he has spoiled
the coup de theatre which results from
the police personally introducing them
selves; but M. Claude does not leave
the gamblers time to pro5t much by
their scare. He has reached the land
ing and passed through the door almost
on the footman's heels, and in ringing
tones that admit of no trifling, he cries,
e Au non, de Ia loi que persoa,ee ne
bouge!"
Nobody does stir, at least in the
sense Of trying to get out Of the house,
for they have felt by: instinct that cs-
cape is impossible. A few gentlemen,
in the first impulse Of fright, have
rushed into neighboring chambers, and
. showily attired lady has fallen over a
foot-stool in making 4 dart over the
hearthrug; but the majority have
merely risen to their legs, and stand
like groupe Of wax-works, with eyes
staring and features blanched. There
are four ladies present and about twen-
ty men, most of them in evening dress,
and congregstcd around table at which
baccaret was being played. The gen.
tleman who was dealing had = large
heap Of gold and bank notes BE-
fore :: him, and he has
brought his two hands down on
it with a natural gesture Of protection.
He is ! gentlemanlike looking person,
with swarthy complexion and for.
eign accent; but he makes no difficulty
in surrendering his heap Of money to
the couple Of detectives who intimate
to him 50 to do, and indeed he does not
seem to understand that he has been
guilty Of and indictable ofense.. Sew
eral Of the other gentlen en- are : simi-
lar case, and seem to resent the intru-
sion Of the police as IN unjustifiable
entry into . private house. There are
guileless travellers from Southern and:
Esstern Europe who have taken their
hostess quite az serietta:, Of very young
/ Frenchmen here afe two who do not