A STRANGE GAME OF CARDS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1069, 4 May 1882, Page 4

A STRANGE GAME OF CARDS.

When the Paris .cabman are not insolent they are net tow amiable. This is quite as dangerous Tor the travellers, ami sometimes also for the drivers lliemeelves. It was an excess of amiability which brought Didier to the Xriodnal of correctional police (a sort of police court). The witness, a lady, ■related her adventure thus::—l had majed at a friend's house thill two o clock in the morning, and I was leaving, after losing at cards almost ail Xue .money 1 had with me. The host aceompained me to the door of the -Louse ; .called a cabman, and told me -at the momentl was getting in the vehicle, ‘ Ah, while 1 think of it, we ruined you to-night; 1 hope you have not been so unlucky at cards as not to have enough .to pay for your fare.’ ■“. Reassure yourself,’ Isaid laughingly, ■“ 1 always keep, at least, the price of <tbe cab-fare.’ Then 1 gave my adress to the cabman, aud we started. When we arrived in the Middle of the Camp) de Mars the cab stopped, and and me driver came down from the box. 1 tliougbl tiiat some accident had happened to lhe.horae, but what was my surprise when she door of the hackney was opened aud the cabman appeared holding m his hand one of the carriage lanterns, and saying to me with utmost politeness, ‘ Madam, 1 liave by chance that you had played at cards. lam passionately loud of play, aud I have always cards with me ; here they are.’ In saying this he drew a pack ot cards from ins pocket, got into the carriage, •sat opposite to me, aud said, ‘ A little bezique 1 XV hose deal shall it be r’ lie offered me the cards for me to ■take one. 1 was so surprised that 1 did uot.know what to say ; I asked jnyself if-that man was not mad, or ■urunk ? '* You have lost all that you -had,’ he said, ‘ 1 shall not ask you to xplay heavy stakes • let us play tor the tare at 1200 of bezique.’ What wasl lo do, in the Champ de Mars at 1.3 U du the morning ? There was no policeman.that 1 could call to help ; the •easiest thing was to accept the game. Besides, 1 was so struck by the ludi•crons adventure that 1 laughed heartily. 1 won the lare; the coachman ■then said, ‘ All right, I’ll drive you dor nothing.' He sat on his box, aud we set out, while I was bursting of laughter. When we arrived, 1 wanted to pay the fare, as 1 had no idea ot liaving played seriously with my cabman. Me refused to receive anything, however, saying i owed him nothing, for he had lost the game. I left oft laughing then, and told him seriously that if he would not take my money 1 should throw it into his twb. Then the man began to abuse me, saying he was as good as I any day ; that 1 had won aud 1 offended him by wishing to pay him. As policemen were passing then, 1 told them what had happened, and entered my house.” The Judge ’ “ Well, Didier, what have you to say ?” Didier : “ 1 have to say that gambling debts are sacred. When one loses, one pays; and when he who has gained wishes to pay all the same, he offends a citizen—that’s my char.acter. If it had not been a lady things would not have happened thus.” The tribunal condemned this strange cabby do two days’ imprisonment