The Gamester — Rafael Sabatini

John Law had a remarkable career ahead of him. Already a successful banker, he was an outstanding figure set to go far. Yet his Scottish homeland was fraught with potential pitfalls and when he killed ‘Beau Wilson' in a dual, it seemed that the gods had finally conspired against him and his career was to be cut short in its prime. However, dissatisfied with his fate, Law contrived to escape from Newgate and avoid his death sentence; instead fleeing to France where he lived a life of adventure and excitement, and turned his banking skills to the gambling tables…