University of Virginia Library

CAPTAIN ROCHE.

Captain Roche, alias Tyger, alias Savage Roche, who stuck his gaming companion's hand to the table with a fork for concealing a card under it, happened to be at the Bedford Billiard-table, which was extremely crowded. Roche was knocking the balls about with his cue, and Major Williamson,

another celebrity, with whom he was engaged on business, desired him to leave off, as he hindered gentlemen from playing. `Gentlemen?' sneeringly exclaimed Roche; `why, major, except you and me (and two or three more) there is not a gentleman in the room — the rest are all blacklegs.'

On leaving the place, the major expressed his astonishment at his rudeness, and wondered, out of so numerous a company, it was not resented. `Oh, sir,' said Roche, `there was no fear of that; there was not a thief in the room who did not suppose himself one of "the two or three gentlemen'' I mentioned.'