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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 15 July 1905, Page 21

Hall Caine has been visiting various gambling places on the Kivicra, so that there may be lacking no accuracy or realism in the great gambling scene in “The Prodigal Son” when the drama is produced at Drury Lane on September 16. Critics, in dealing with the book, said that the gambling scenes wore laid at Monte Carlo, and found fault with the description of what they wrongly assumed to be roulette. As a matter of fact, the author neither intended to signify the Casino at Monte Carlo nor the game of roulette. What he deserrbcd was baccarat, as played at the big gambling clubs. Certain experimiccd baccarat players have, however, pointed out to him weak points in this scene, and he came to the Riviera expressly to study the game in its various and most exuberant forms. Under the guidance of one of the best-known European gamblers and plungers, he visited ull the most notorious clubs,casinos, and gambt ing hells on the Riviera, and while his guide played baccarat Mr Caine took quiet note of all that went on. At a well-known “cercie,” or so-called club, at Nico, Hall Caine stood behind the chair of his companion, who in loss than an hour lost over .£2600. After this, no one will in future be able to reproach him with not being personally acijuainted with the modern in innei A and methods of “The Prodigal Son.”