various gradations of crime through which it passes, till it arrives at robbery, and ends in murder "Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.” The incidents, though highly romantic, are nevertheless probable; indeed, many of them would appear the most natural results of his headlong career. Other spectacles, founded on impossibilities, may delight the eye and leave untouched the heart; but this strikes the very heart's core, and presents to the terrified imagination such an appalling picture of infamy, destitution, and despair, that we unhesitatingly pronounce much benefit must result to society from its exhi bition. The French author has borrowed largely from the tragedy of the Gamester-Malcour is Stukely in more instances that one. He makes his unhappy friend a gambler-grows rich by his losses-and attempts to seduce his wife. The circumstance of Albert's selling his wife's jewels, is also from the same source. But these incidents are worked up with many others that are original; and the interest they excite is so intense, that we shall not play the hypercritic, and quarrel with what has been thus judiciously appropriated. Mr. Wallack and Mr. Cooper, in the two gamblers, were all that melodrame could desire. Mr. Wallack was particularly effectiveindeed, were it not for Mr. T. P. Cooke, this gentleman would be without a rival in this department of the drama. Albert's wife was well represented by Mrs. W. West: this lady was more subdued than usual; she was less prodigal of her sighs and tears, and consequently gave a quiet and affecting picture of real misery. We can neither endure to see a robustious, periwig-pated fellow out-herod Herod-nor a mincing, affected fine lady "Drown the stage with tears, And cleave the general ear with horrid speech." When the expression should be silent and unutterable— "Grief unaffected suits but ill with art, Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart." Costume. OLD GERMAINE.-An embroidered dress suit. ALBERT GERMAINE.-First dress-Green coat, buff waistcoat and breeches, cocked hat, top boots. Second dress-Puce coloured dress suit. Third dress-An old gray tattered coat, waistcoat, and trousers, tied at the bottom with cord; shabby lowcrowned hat, shoes with pieces of hempen cord, rope round his waist, long rough walking-staff. MALCOUR.-First dress-Blne coat, white waistcoat, buff breeches, top boots, cocked hat. Second dress-Brown dress suit. Third dress-A mendicant's old blue ragged dress, old hat, long rough walking-staff, and wallet by his side. DUMONT.-Brown dress suit, camlet fly. BERTRAND.-Brown coat white waistcoat, buff breeches, top boots. MARTIN.-Old-fashioned brown coat and breeches, black silk waistcoat, black stockings and shoes. EVERARD.-Black suit and black gown. CAPTAIN D'ESTERRE.-Blue regimental coat, white waistcoat and breeches, military boots, high cocked hat. HENRY GERMAINE.-Blue braided coat, white waistcoat and trousers, military cap and cloak. RICHARD.-Striped silk jacket, pink silk jockey's cap, blue silk waistcoat, buff breeches, and top boots. LINDORF.-Blue frock, military cloak, boots, and travelling.cap. CARL.-Blue regimental coat, breeches, high boots, and cocked hat. BAALAMB.-Brown jacket, shirt and braces, black full breeches, leather garters, and russet shoes; cap to correspond. TWELVE SOLDIERS.-Blue regimental coats and waistcoats white breeches, high boots, and cocked hats. FOUR WAITERS.-White and orange livery, trimmed with silver, white silk stockings and shoes. TRAVELLERS.-German cloaks, white shirts and braces, full breeches, grey stockings, garters and shoes. MARQUIS.-Light-coloured embroidered suit. JEAN JAQUES ROUSSEAU.-Striped velvet coat and waistcoat, silk stockings, and shoes. BARON HERCULES.-Green German military great-coat, high cocked-hat, mustachios, and military boots. AMBLERS.-Embroidered full-dress suits. Se. JULIA.-First dress-Gold lama dress, French bonnet. cond dress-Common dark-brown cotton gown, shabby morone cotton handkerchief, and cap. MADAME BELCOUR.-A neat matronly French dress, high cap. VISITORS.-White fancy dresses. MRS. BAALAM B.-Brown and yellow German dress. 8 Cast of the Characters as performed at the Theatre Royal, Gamblers, Officers, Villagers, Waiters &c. &c. STAGE DIRECTIONS. The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances. EXITS and ENTRANCES. R. means Right; L. Left; D. F. Door in Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door. RELATIVE POSITIONS. R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre R. C. Right of Centre ; L. C. Left of Centre. R. RC. C. LC. L. The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience. THE GAMBLER'S FATE. ACT I.. SCENE I-A Gaming-house at Paris; twenty Gamblers sitting at play round a Rouge-et-Noir table in an inner room, at the back of the stage, with an entrance from anti-room. A door, R. S. E., leading to Hazard-room; public door at L. S. E.-A table, chair, pens, and ink, R.; a table, chair, pens, and ink, L.—Servants, in splendid liveries, carrying about refreshments, &c. Banker. [Behind.] Make your game, gentlemen, make your game. [Dealing.] Um-um-29-rouge. [Expressions of pleasure and pain from gamblers. MALCOUR advances to C., counting notes, &c. Mal. Um-1200-winner-good! I hadn't five pounds three hours ago! Bless the blind old lady, say I!Ha ha!-What excitement in the game to a novice! I have retired soon-I'm cool. [Sits L. [Dice heard in the room, R. Ban. Make your game, gentlemen. Um-um-noir. Enter RODOLPHE BERTRAND from Hazard-room. Ber. (R. D.) Fool, fool that I was not to quit when I was so considerable a winner!-Now I am without a shilling!-Cruel, cruel fortune! Mal. Ha! ha! ha!-Poor devil, he has lost. Why how now, Bertrand?-Complaining of dame Fortune? Ber. Complaining!-Aye; the old blind beldam has settled me for ever. Lost in three weeks four thousand pounds-all that a kind father had saved during a long life of honour in his country's service! But, if ever again[Throws himself in chair, R. Ma. Ha! ha ha! [Laughs.] Always the cry of your losing gamester; but let the luck turn, and thenHa ha ha! [Laughs.] Where's your philosophy, my dear fellow ? You should study the chances-play on calculation. [Counting his notes.] Ah, here comes young Albert Germaine, the boldest, the most desperate dog Enter GERMAINE, who has peeped through folding-doors, and then turns and sees Malcour. Alb. (c.) Ah, Malcour, my boy, how goes the enemy? Mal. Midnight. Alb. I'm late-my honoured papa detained me—obliged to do an hour's " filial piety," and a little "domestic comfort," the night before my marriage. Ha! ha! ha! [Laughs.] I'm a precious hypocrite. [Sighs. Mal. The run has been against you here lately-you're out. Alb. Aye, confoundedly out; but to-night I depend on fortune's smile to compensate for all her frowns.I'm out the twelve hundred my father entrusted to me, to buy those diamonds he is to give my intended wife on our wedding-day. Mal. That's awkward. Alb. It's ruin. Money I must have. I have been running after our old friend Alvare, the usurer-he's in the country. Mal. That's unlucky. The old Jew has often been a friend in need." Alb. I was so short of cash, that I have metamorphosed some trinkets into " rosy gold." Mal. Right, my boy; attack fortune like a lad of courage-force her to be kind. Who knows but those goldfinches [Albert counting his cash] may sing a pretty tune before sunrise. Alb. Fortune-dear, but fickle goddess! befriend me but one hour-but one little hour, and I shall be the happiest of men, of lovers, and of husbands! [Exit to the table—plays. Ber. (R.) So-another victim! [Observes Albert at the table. Mal. [Sits, L., writing during speech.] Those jewels must be had for Albert, or the old gentleman's suspicions would prevent the marriage. That must not beno, he must marry. Marriage!-Ha! ha! [Laughs.] I, too, love this Julia; but marriage-ha! ha! [Laughs.] As a mistress I should adore her; but, as a wifepsha!-there's such an inconvenient interruption about |
