As was perfectly obvious, a robbery of this kind was greatly facilitated by the plain white backs of the cards in daily use. It was therefore decided that in future every morning a new design should be produced for the backs of these cards, which, known only to a special department, would effectually prevent any chance of prepared packets being interpolated with the packs issued by the authorities. At roulette as at trente-et-quarante the money is publicly counted out and verified by an inspector before play begins. The roulette wheels are balanced in the presence of the public, and one of the blue-coated _garçons de salle_ goes from table to table with a spirit-level, which is placed upon the rosewood rim of the cylinder, a _chef de table_ verifying the accurate adjustment of the wheel by seeing that the air bubble is exactly in the centre. The maximum stakes allowed on the different chances at roulette are:-- Francs. On one number 180 On two numbers (_à cheval_) 360 On three numbers transversal 560 Four numbers (_en carré_) 750 On 0, 1, 2, 3 750 On six numbers transversal 1200 On one dozen 3000 On one column 3000 On all the even chances 6000 [Illustration: PLAN OF ROULETTE TABLE AS USED AT MONTE CARLO METHODS OF STAKING 1. On one number (3). 2. On two numbers (8 and 9); this is called "à cheval." 3. On three numbers (10, 11, 12); this is called "transversale." 4. On a "carré," or square, of 4 numbers (20, 21, 23, 24). 5. On a transversale of 6 numbers (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30). 6. On an even chance (Black). 7. On two even chances (Black and Pair). 8. On a dozen (1st dozen). 9. On a column (last column). Maximum stake, 10,000 francs; minimum, 5 francs. Zero sweeps all stakes except even chances, which go into "prison" till next coup, when they are either released or taken.] The amount with which play is begun each day is 80,000 francs, or £3200. Each roulette table has two boards, on which players may stake, the roulette wheel (a cylinder let into the table) lying between the two. The numbers of the roulette are arranged irregularly, though reds and blacks alternate. Zero, which is not counted as a colour, lies between 32 red and 15 black. There are in all thirty-seven little compartments which receive the ball--eighteen red, eighteen black, and zero. The accurate odds, therefore, are 36 to 1 against any particular division; nevertheless the bank only pays 35 to 1, which causes its profit to amount to 1 in 37, nearly 2·865 per cent. The lowest stake allowed at roulette is five francs, the highest 10,000 francs, known as a maximum.