Ole Bull Bets on Red

In 1831, twenty-one-year-old Norwegian violinist Ole Bull walked to Paris with almost no money and no introductions, desperate to be heard. Within days, both his clothes and his violin were stolen. In despair he considered ending it all in the Seine.

A chance acquaintance—who turned out to be Vidocq, the famous detective—offered a plan: go to a gambling house, play *rouge-et-noir*, and keep betting on red. Ole placed his last francs on rouge…and won. He bet again, and won again, until a sizable pile sat in front of him.

Afraid to lose what he’d gained, he stepped away and watched long enough to realize that if he had kept betting red, he might have won a fortune. Even so, the money left a bitter taste. He wrote a friend: it was a “hideous joy”—a horrible pleasure to save yourself by the losses of others.

With the winnings he bought another violin. Soon he was invited to a private concert, where he managed to attract attention even while all Paris was worshipping Paganini.