The conduct of Draupadi herself on the occasion shows that she
was by no means unfamiliar with the idea: she protested--not on

the ground of sentiment or matrimonial obligation--but solely on
what may be called a technical point of law, namely, `Had

Yudhishthira become a slave before he staked his wife upon the
last game?' For, of course, having ceased to be a freeman,

he had no right to stake her liberty.
The concluding scene of the drama forms an impressive figure in

the mind of the Hindoo. The terrible figure of Draupadi, as she
dishevels her long black hair, is the very impersonation of

revenge; and a Hindoo audience never fails to shudder at her
fearful vow--that the straggling tresses shall never again be

tied up until the day when Bhima shall have fulfilled his vow,
and shall then bind them up whilst his fingers are still dripping

with the blood of Duhsasana.
The avenging battle subsequently ensued. Bhima struck down

Duhsasana with a terrible blow of his mace, saying,--`This day I
fulfil my vow against the man who insulted Draupadi!' Then

setting his foot on the breast of Duhsasana, he drew his sword,
and cut off the head of his enemy; and holding his two hands to

catch the blood, he drank it off, crying out, `Ho! ho! Never did
I taste anything in this world so sweet as this blood.'

This staking of wives by gamblers is a curious subject. The
practice may be said to have been universal, having furnished

cases among civilized as well as barbarous nations. Of course
the Negroes of Africa stake their wives and children;

according to Schouten, a Chinese staked his wife and
children, and lost them; Paschasius Justus states that a

Venetian staked his wife; and not a hundred years ago certain
debauchees at Paris played at dice for the possession of a

celebrated courtesan. But this is an old thing. Hegesilochus,
and other rulers of Rhodes, were accustomed to play at dice for

the honour of the most distinguished ladies of that island--the
agreement being that the party who lost had to bring to the arms

of the winner the lady designated by lot to that indignity.[18]
[18] Athen. lib. XI. cap. xii.

There are traditions of such stakes having been laid and lost by
husbands in _England;_ and a remarkable case of the kind will be

found related in Ainsworth's `Old Saint Paul's,' as having
occurred during the Plague of London, in the year 1665. There

can be little doubt that it is founded on fact; and the conduct
of the English wife, curiously enough, bears a striking

resemblance to that of Draupadi in the Indian narrative.
A Captain Disbrowe of the king's body-guard lost a large sum of

money to a notorious debauchee, a gambler and bully, named Sir
Paul Parravicin. The latter had made an offensive allusion

to the wife of Captain Disbrowe, after winning his money; and
then, picking up the dice-box, and spreading a large heap of gold

on the table, he said to the officer who anxiously watched his
movements:--`I mentioned your wife, Captain Disbrowe, not with

any intention of giving you offence, but to show you that,
although you have lost your money, you have still a valuable

stake left.'
`I do not understand you, Sir Paul,' returned Disbrowe, with a

look of indignant surprise.
`To be plain, then,' replied Parravicin, `I have won from you two

hundred pounds--all you possess. You are a ruined man, and as
such, will run any hazard to retrieve your losses. I give you a

last chance. I will stake all my winnings--nay, double the
amount--against your wife. You have a key of the house you

inhabit, by which you admit yourself at all hours; so at least I
am informed. If I win, that key shall be mine. I will take my

chance of the rest. Do you understand me now?'
`I do,' replied the young man, with concentrated fury. `I

understand that you are a villain. You have robbed me of my
money, and would rob me of my honour.'

`These are harsh words, sir,' replied the knightcalmly; `but
let them pass. We will play first, and fight afterwards. But

you refuse my challenge?'
`It is false!' replied Disbrowe, fiercely, `I accept it.' And

producing a key, he threw it on the table. `My life is, in
truth, set on the die,' he added, with a desperate look; `for if

I lose, I will not survive my shame.'
`You will not forget our terms,' observed Parravicin. `I am to

be your representative to-night. You can return home to-morrow.'
`Throw, sir,--throw,' cried the young man, fiercely.

`Pardon me,' replied the knight; `the first cast is with you. A
single main decides it.'

`Be it so,' returned Disbrowe, seizing the bow. And as he shook
the dice with a frenzied air, the bystanders drew near the table

to watch the result.
`Twelve!' cried Disbrowe, as he removed the box. `My honour is

saved! My fortune retrieved--Huzza!'
`Not so fast,' returned Parravicin, shaking the box in his turn.

`You were a little hasty,' he added, uncovering the dice. `I
am twelve too. We must throw again.'

`This is to decide,' cried the young officer, rattling the
dice,--`Six!'

Parravicin smiled, took the box, and threw _TEN_.
`Perdition!' ejaculated Disbrowe, striking his brow with his

clenched hand. `What devil tempted me to my undoing? . . . My
wife trusted to this profligate! . . . Horror! It must not be!'

`It is too late to retract,' replied Parravicin, taking up the
key, and turning with a triumphant look to his friends.

Disbrowe noticed the smile, and, stung beyond endurance, drew his
sword, and called to the knight to defend himself. In an instant

passes were exchanged. But the conflict was brief. Fortune, as
before, declared herself in favour of Parravicin. He disarmed

his assailant, who rushed out of the room, uttering the wildest
ejaculations of rage and despair.

* * * * * *
The winner of the key proceeded at once to use. He gained

admittance to the captain's house, and found his way to the
chamber of his wife, who was then in bed. At first mistaken for

her husband Parravicin heard words of tender reproach for his
lateness; and then, declaring himself, he belied her husband,

stating that he was false to her, and had surrendered her to him.
At this announcement Mrs Disbrowe uttered a loud scream, and fell

back in the bed. Parravicin waited for a moment; but not hearing
her move, brought the lamp to see what was the matter. She had

fainted, and was lying across the pillow, with her night-dress
partly open, so as to expose her neck and shoulders. The knight

was at first ravished with her beauty; but his countenance
suddenly fell, and an expression of horror and alarm took

possession of it. He appeared rooted to the spot, and instead of
attempting to render her any assistance, remained with his gaze

fixed upon her neck. Rousing himself at length, he rushed out of
the room, hurried down-stairs, and without pausing for a moment,

threw open the street door. As he issued from it his throat was
forcibly griped, and the point of a sword was placed at his

breast.
It was the desperate husband, who was waiting to avenge his

wife's honour.
`You are in my power, villain,' cried Disbrowe, `and shall not

escape my vengeance.'
`You are already avenged,' replied Parravicin, shaking off

his assailant--`_YOUR WIFE HAS THE PLAGUE_.'