,,the ,,sharper ,,detected ,,and ,,exposed4 ,,by ,,robert-,,houdin4 clairez les dupes1 il n'y aura plus de fripons4 ,,montesquieu4 ,,london3 ,,chapman ,,and ,,hall1 #aic1 ,,piccadilly4 #ahfc4 ,,london3 ,,bradbury ,,and ,,evans1 ,,printers1 ,,whitefriars4 ,,preface4 ,having often been requested by different magistrates1 to investigate cases of sharping1 ,i have often been struck1 while doing so1 with the obstacles and embarrassments which a judge's own honesty must oppose to his elucidation of matters of sharping and cheating at play4 ,how is it possible that he can penetrate the subtile web1 with which the sharper surrounds his dupes1--how can he be able to detect the tricks of these rogues1--if he does not understand the manoeuvres of sleight-of-hand8 ,by a singular reversal of the ordinary conditions of justice1 the magistrate finds himself most powerless1 when the rogue has committed the most daring1 and artfully cunning1 frauds4 ,a great portion of my life having been devoted to the study of sleight-of-hand1 and having1 as yet1 only made use of my knowledge for the amusement of my fellow-creatures1 ,i felt that the time had arrived1 when ,i ought to give to the public1 who had so honoured me with their favour1 an unequivocal mark of my gratitude1 by consecrating my leisure hours to their service4 ,i have therefore written this work1 the moral and end of which may be summed up in this incontestable truth3 clairez les dupes1 il n'y aura plus de fripons4 ,enlighten the dupes1 and there will be no more knaves4 ,there is no reason1 however1 because a fact is incontestable1 that it will not be contested2 indeed1 ,i am of opinion that it will be1 and1 as a proof of what ,i state1 ,i am myself going to offer an objection which might be made on this subject4 ,in disclosing the secrets of sharpers1 people will say1 ,do you not fear to create in the minds of unfortunate gamblers1 a wish to try and better their fortunes1 by the very means you point out to warn them8 ,i have been guided by an opinion1 repeatedly expressed by the editors of newspapers1 and the press in general2 and1 in answer to the objection ,i have made above1 ,i beg to say1 that in the explanations ,i have given of the tricks of sharpers1 though ,i have said enough to put people on their guard1 ,i have not said enough to teach them how to execute these tricks4 ,if ,i had not taken this precaution1 what would have been the result8 ,it is only one individual1 already half perverted1 who will avail himself of the knowledge ,i impart1 to learn to cheat1 while hundreds of dupes will have been put on their guard4 ,if these revelations serve to awaken vicious ideas in perverted minds1 what can be said of the various works on the laws of duelling1 in which you can learn how to kill your neighbour according to rule8 ,is it not to be feared1 that the opinions contained in those books may lead to crime8 ,for my part1 ,i have so good an opinion of mankind in general1 that ,i trust the perusal of this work will only tend to their benefit1 and prove their safeguard against rogues4 ,let each person when he sits down to play1 strengthened by the hints and instructions ,i have given him1 look with suspicion on all ,greeks 7as these sharpers are sometimes called71 and let him recollect to his profit this verse of ,virgil3 ,timeo ,danaos et dona ferentes4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,preface iii ,,an ,,anecdote ,,by ,,way ,,of ,,introduction4 ,a dangerous professor #a ,,chapter ,i4 ,,modern ,,greeks4 ,origin of the name ,greek--,the first gambling houses--,invention of ,roulette--,hunt for dupes--,opening of tripots or low gambling-houses--,the ,greek described--,different classes of sharpers #ae ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,fashionable ,,life4 ,wonderful acuteness--,refined sleight-of-hand--,delicacy of touch #bb ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,the ,,middle ,,classes4 ,the ,comtois and ,amazone--,tricks and frauds--,an heir expectant--,game at ,bouillotte--,a rich pocket-book--,the bill to pay--,dupers duped #bf ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,the ,,tripot4 ,his abject condition--,the public-house--,pretended stupidity-- ,dupes fleeced--,acting the countryman--,table d'hte--,the pellets--,a good farce--,deception--,the three cards--,the countryman's bet--,clever substitution--,english rogues-- ,thimble-rig #cc ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,greek ,,taken ,,in ,,the ,,fact4 ,the restaurant of the ,veau qui tte--,subscription ball--,the card-room--,a lucky player--,sauter la coupe--,mystification --,the tell-tale hat--,we are done #de ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,gambler ,,raymond4 ,his infallible system--,his agreeable manners--,a ,roulette player --,confidences--,revelations--,in vein1 and out of vein--,the maturity of chances--,advice to players--,maxims--,influences --,the gambler must be unmoved--,application of the system--,a fortunate martingale--,mysterious meeting--,shorn of a beard-- ,ruin and misery--,the ,talisman--,raymond is a ,greek--,useful information #ed ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,edifying ,,history ,,of ,a ,,greek4 ,debauchery--,scheme to get money--,the usurer ,robineau--,the bill of exchange--,a false friend--,treason--,stay at ,clichy-- ,initiation of a sharper--,release from prison #ga ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,secret ,,gambling-,,houses4 ,greeks both as dupers and duped--,andras ,tte d',or--,secret inquiry--,the human ostrich--,the ,society of ,philosophers-- ,chaffard the bravo--,exploit of ,tte d',or--,a ,greek thrown out of window--,mystification #hj ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,secret ,,gambling-,,houses--7continued74 ,school of cheating--,travelling ,greeks--,le ,service--,formidable manoeuvre--,imperceptible signs--,the business of the ,comtois --,the coup de retraite--,abundant harvest--,prodigality and debauch--,fortune takes her reprisal #hi ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,doctor ,,duped4 ,the false capitalist--,the rogue is bled--,more confederates arrive --,a good hand--,the fleecing--,the doctor bled #ii ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,paste ,,ring4 ,the amateur of precious stones--,what a beautiful diamond6--,a sovereign cure--,ah6 if ,i were a rogue--,a false paste ring6-- ,the game is played--,the tell-tale stamp investigation--,the wanderer by night--,the mysterious tripot--,the sharper caught in a trap--,recriminations--,the message--,the false commissary of police--,the ,rue de ,jerusalem--,unexpected dnoement #ajf ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,an ,,infamous ,,snare4 ,a young fool--,envy and covetousness--,aphorisms--,insinuations --,confidences--,influencing the game--,honest men are sometimes rogues--,mushrooms and cheating--,the ,greek moralist--,example of cheating--,initiation--,maxims and manipulations--,temptation --,the ,belgian capitalist--,the cartes biseautes--,easily won --,an insolvent gambler--,comedy--,the ,greek in despair--,an infamous snare--,dishonour--,ruin--,the faithless trustee-- ,separation of the philosophers--,a virtuous ,greek--,golden hopes --,a beard again--,a demi-millionaire #abd 99 99 99 99 99 ,,technical ,,part4 ,,general ,,principles4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,false ,,cut4 ,the saut de coupe--,the passe-coupe--,the cut above--,the large card--,the bridge--,the bent card #aeh ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,filer ,,la ,,carte4 ,to change a card #afi ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the enlevage1 or abstraction of a card #agb ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,the card replaced #age ,,chapter ,v4 ,the glance #agf ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,the substituted pack--,the box in the sleeve #agg ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,false shuffles--,the arranged shuffle--,the partial shuffle--,the fan--,the dove-tail #ahc ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,doctored ,,cards4 ,cartes biseautes--,tinted cards--,sticky or slippery cards-- ,slanting cards--,pricked cards--,cards with indented edges-- ,wavy cards--,chequered cards--,marked cards #ahi ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,the chaplet1 or rosary #bje ,,chapter ,x4 ,the ring for marking #bji ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the reflecting snuff-box #baa ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,application ,,of ,,the ,,preceding ,,principles4 ,arrangement of the pack--,coups de piquet--,how to repique and capot an adversary--,how to repique and capot an adversary1 although he has shuffled the cards--,abstraction and substitution of cards--,coup d'cart--,jeu de rgle--,lansquenet-- ,baccarat--,vingt-et-un1 c4 c4 #bac ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,entertaining ,,tricks4 ,in ,piquet--cart--,baccarat--,impriale--,wh ist--,bouillotte --,bzigue--c41 c4 #bcb ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,minor ,,cheats ,,of ,,men ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,ruses and frauds allowable by custom in society #bei ,,the ,,sharper ,,detected ,,and ,,exposed4 ,,an ,,anecdote ,,by ,,way ,,of ,,introduction4 ,a ,,dangerous ,,professor4 ,whatever1 dear reader1 may be the value you attach to the knowledge of the knaveries ,i am about to reveal to you1 you will assuredly never pay so dearly for them as ,i have4 ,you will easily understand1 that the tricks and impostures exposed in this work1 are not the inventions of my own brain4 ,i have collected them1 one by one1 from sharpers1 or have been obliged to find them out as best ,i could4 ,my researches have been both difficult and dangerous4 ,sharpers do not willingly part with the arts on which they depend for their livelihood2 and1 moreover1 you are driven1 by your investigations1 into a society which may often expose you to serious personal risk4 ,when ,i was but a novice in the art of legerdemain1 ,i often went1 as ,i have mentioned in my ,confessions1 to the house of a manufacturer of articles used for jugglery1 named ,pre ,roujol1 hoping to meet there some lover of magic1 or professor of the art of legerdemain4 ,the kind ,pre ,roujol had taken a great fancy to me2 he knew my passion for what he termed natural philosophy rendered amusing1 and took pleasure in giving me these opportunities of obtaining useful hints on the subject4 ,he spoke to me one day1 of a man named ,elias ,hausheer1 whom he had met at a caf4 ,this man1 said he to me1 appears very clever1 but from a few words he let fall1 it strikes me that he makes more use of his dexterity in winning at play1 than for the harmless amusement of the public4 ,hausheer's character was of little consequence to me2 he might be the greatest blackleg in ,paris2 ,i only cared to know that he was clever1 and ,i hoped to learn from him a good deal that would be useful4 ,i thanked my old friend for his information1 and decided to call on ,m4 ,hausheer the following morning about ten o'clock4 ,i was at this time only known as a mechanician1 and ,i feared that my being so1 would hardly procure me an introduction to the great man4 ,an idea just then crossed my brain2 ,i had recently invented a little mechanical bird1 which sang and hopped about on the top of a snuff-box4 ,i thought that perhaps this work of art1 a very valuable one1 by-the-bye1 would serve my purpose1 and ,i took it with me4 ,feeling more confidence in the result of my visit1 ,i directed my steps towards the ,rue de l'cu d',or1 where the great man in question resided4 ,i say great man1 not in a spirit of irony1 but because1 in my monomania1 my imagination pictured ,m4 ,hausheer as having a large fortune1 and all other advantages in keeping with his wonderful talents4 ,i did not know the ,rue de l'cu d',or at all4 ,i was much surprised1 on arriving there1 at its miserable and poverty-stricken appearance1 but without stopping to reflect on this first disenchantment1 ,i walked on until ,i came to ,no4 #h1 which was the address mentioned on the card ,i held in my hand4 ,a long1 straight alley1 damp and dirty1 served as an entrance to the house4 ,i entered it resolutely4 ,does ,m4 ,hausheer live here8 ,i asked1 rapping on one of the dingy-looking panes of a sort of glass-box1 over which the word ,porter1 was written4 ,a man with a grey beard1 cut to a peak1 like a well-pointed pencil1 with a bootjack in one hand1 and a boot in the other1 opened one of the panes1 and with a strong ,german accent1 asked me what ,i wanted4 ,m4 ,hausheer1 ,i replied4 ,i don't know such a person3 there are none but ,germans in this house4 ,well1 replied ,i1 if ,i may judge from the name ,i've just mentioned1 the person ,i want ought to be a ,german4 ,i presented the card which ,i held in my hand4 ,the polisher of boots put on his spectacles1 and after having read the name of his lodger1 said3 ,ah6 ,m4 ,hhhaoushheer1 aspirating1 with great force1 the letter ,h1 as if to give me a lesson in pronouncing the ,german language4 ,yes1 yes1 he lives on the second floor1 at the end of the corridor1 to the left4 ,thus instructed1 ,i mounted the staircase until ,i reached the second story1 proceeding along a dark corridor1 at the end of which ,i discovered a door1 at which ,i rapped4 ,loud sounds and laughter were heard from within4 ,a woman1 whose exact age it would be difficult to guess1 so dirty and worn with age were both herself and her dress1 opened the door a very little way4 ,remembering the lesson of my friend with the bootjack below1 ,i asked1 ,is ,m4 ,hhhaoushheer at home8 ,come in1 and go to that door1 replied the woman1 pointing to a glass-door at the end of the apartment4 ,notwithstanding a nauseating odour which assailed my nostrils1 and the wretched appearance of the whole place1 ,i resolved on following up an adventure which promised some amusement4 ,the noise ,i had heard1 proceeded from half-a-dozen children1 more than half naked1 and extremely dirty1 who were playing and shouting4 ,the room was large1 and they had it all to themselves1 for there was no furniture in it4 ,striding over one1 and pushing aside another1 ,i opened a glass-door1 and found myself in a bedroom4 ,i will not attempt to depict this apartment1 but will leave it to the imagination of my readers1 who1 after the description given of the preceding room1 may easily imagine it was far from clean or comfortable4 ,no one was there to receive me4 ,i ventured1 however1 to utter once more the name of the magician ,i had come to see4 ,two curtains1 which had once been white1 were suddenly drawn aside1 and in the centre appeared a gaunt-looking head1 covered with a cotton nightcap1 yellow from age and long usage4 ,what do you want1 young man8 asked this odd-looking individual1 addressing me4 ,to see ,m4 ,hausheer1 ,i replied4 ,i am ,m4 ,hausheer--and my interlocutor eyed me in a way which seemed to say--,and what next8 ,my illusions1 so poetical a quarter of an hour before1 were1 you may well believe1 entirely dissipated4 ,m4 ,hausheer only inspired me with feelings of disgust4 ,i should have liked to have departed at once2 but how could ,i do so8 ,i must1 at all events1 say something before retiring4 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,pre ,roujol has been speaking to me about you1 and of your skill in legerdemain4 ,from what he said1 ,i have been induced to come and talk to you1 about an art in which ,i passionately delight2 but do not disturb yourself1 ,i will come again another time4 ,no1 no6 ,wait an instant--,i understand1 from what you say1 you are come with the intention of taking some lessons from me4 ,i made no reply1 fearing to bind myself to an engagement1 of which ,i did not clearly see the end4 ,hausheer1 however1 construed my silence into a consent1 and thinking1 doubtless1 of the money he should gain1 jumped straight out of bed4 ,he was partly dressed1 but1 without troubling himself to put on any more clothes1 he approached me4 ,let us see what you know1 young man2 what progress have you made in the science8 said he1 offering me a pack of cards4 ,far from accepting his invitation to give him a proof of my abilities1 ,i repeated my desire to shorten my visit4 ,but the wary professor did not intend thus to lose his prey4 ,that ,i had come to take a lesson was evident1 and he was determined that a lesson ,i should have1 whether ,i now wished for it or not4 ,still ,i persisted in my determination to retire4 ,judging it would be wiser to persuade1 than to force me1 to stay1 ,hausheer began to exhibit1 as a specimen of his skill1 some tricks with cards1 which he performed with marvellous dexterity4 ,from this moment1 all the apprehension and disgust which ,i had previously felt1 if ,i may so express it1 completely vanished2 admiration had replaced every other feeling4 ,i was now as eager to remain1 as ,i had before been to depart4 ,it was now my turn to astonish the professor2 so ,i took out my celebrated snuff-box1 and presenting it to him1 ,i touched a spring1 when out flew my little automaton1 hopping1 singing1 and flapping his wings2 and1 when all these operations were finished1 vanishing as if by enchantment4 ,as long as my bird was singing1 my attention was riveted on it1 but when it had finished1 ,i glanced at ,hausheer1 to judge what effect it had produced on him4 ,i was struck by the covetous expression that flashed from his eyes4 ,it seemed to me that he glanced furtively from side to side in a singular manner1 as if debating with himself how he could1 by any possibility1 gain possession of my snuff-box2 his face was pale1 and his hands1 which he stretched towards me1 were tremulous with agitation4 ,how do you like it8 ,i asked him4 ,instead of answering me1 ,hausheer walked across the room to a cabinet1 opened it hurriedly1 and took out something which he concealed under his clothes4 ,it is very pretty1 said he1 at length1 turning towards me2 but1 ,i say1 young man1 you must leave it with me to show to one of my friends1 who is rich1 and will buy it4 ,this box is not for sale1 replied ,i2 it is an order1 and1 indeed1 ,i ought to take it home to-day4 ,oh6 that's of no consequence4 ,i will show it to my friend1 and you can take it home afterwards4 ,to this observation ,i made no reply1 but wrapping the box up in paper1 ,i was just going to put it back into my pocket1 when ,hausheer rushed up to me1 rage sparkling in his eyes4 ,i confess ,i felt alarmed2 and my alarm was not lessened1 when my aggressor1 backing me up into a corner of the room1 exclaimed1 in a voice ,i shall never forget1 ,i will have it2 do you hear8 ,at the same time he put his hand inside his flannel waistcoat1 the poor and flimsy texture of which1 permitted me to see the bony fingers of ,hausheer clutch the handle of what ,i supposed to be a dagger4 ,the feeling of self-preservation restored all my energies4 ,the danger was imminent4 ,i prepared for a desperate struggle4 ,i put my snuff-box quickly into my pocket1 to leave my hands at liberty1 and looked stedfastly at ,hausheer1 to read in his eyes1 if possible1 what was to be his next move4 ,he hesitated for a moment1 seeming at a loss to know what it would be best to do4 ,it may be1 that the dogged expression of my countenance1 or perhaps the impossibility of committing a murder without detection1 made him pause2 or he may have wished to try once more1 by persuasion1 to gain his ends1 before proceeding to extreme measures4 ,the whole expression of his physiognomy underwent an instantaneous alteration2 he was evidently trying to calm himself1 and his full purple lips essayed to form themselves into a smile4 ,do tell me1 said he1 why you won't lend me your snuff-box8 tapping me familiarly on the shoulder at the same time4 ,devil take it1 man1 ,i replied1 as calmly as my agitated feelings would allow me1 you are so quick1 you don't give one time to explain oneself4 ,to this observation he uttered some gibberish1 to which ,i paid no attention1 so much was ,i preoccupied with my own thoughts4 ,dreading a recurrence of his former violence1 ,i was pondering on some plan to escape1 and was lucky enough to hit on the following3-- ,look here1 ,i exclaimed1 forcing myself to speak in as natural a tone of voice as possible1 you are sure that you can sell this piece of mechanism for me8 ,certainly1 replied ,hausheer2 ,i am quite sure of it1 for my friend is very rich4 ,oh6 then1 if your friend is so rich1 you can do me a great service1 my dear sir4 ,what is it8 ,i possess a snuff-box similar to this1 as regards the mechanical part of it2 but as the box itself is of chased gold1 it is too expensive an article for me to dispose of easily4 ,i should1 therefore1 be very glad if your friend would buy it4 ,it is well said1 that1 to believe oneself more clever than others1 is the way to be deceived4 ,the cunning rascal never perceived the snare ,i had laid for him4 ,that would suit him better still1 said he4 ,come1 let us go1 and get this treasure4 ,willingly1 ,i replied4 ,finish dressing yourself1 and ,i'll wait for you2 without1 ,i added1 you would like to accompany me in the state you now are8 ,this little plaisanterie did not provoke a smile from ,hausheer2 he contented himself with offering me a chair1 and proceeded to finish his toilette4 ,during this time ,i was contriving the plot for my revenge4 ,at length we started4 ,the ,rue de l'cu d',or was at the back of the ,htel de ,ville4 ,the ,rue de ,vendme au ,marais1 where ,i lived1 was not far off2 besides1 each of us had reasons of his own for hastening his steps2 so we were soon there4 ,i rapped at my door1 and1 as soon as it was opened1 ,i entered in advance of my companion1 and1 turning round and standing so as to prevent his entrance1 ,i said to him1 in a calm voice1 mingled with irony-- ,m4 ,hausheer1 ,i have some business to transact in this house1 which will detain me some time4 ,i hope1 therefore1 you will not trouble yourself to wait for me4 ,and the snuff-box with the bird8 said the ,german1 reddening with vexation4 ,oh6 you shall have that another time1 ,i replied1 in a mischievously significant tone of voice1 and shut the door hastily in his face4 ,as ,hausheer departed1 ,i heard him utter a perfect volley of oaths and imprecations1 amidst which1 the words1 ,i have been a great blockhead1 were distinctly audible4 ,these volleys of abuse mattered little to me2 ,i was in my own house1 and had nothing to fear4 ,i left the rascally juggler to his anger and his regrets4 ,some months afterwards1 ,i was one day reading the ,gazette des ,tribunaux1 when my eye was arrested by the name of ,elias ,hausheer1 figuring amongst a gang of sharpers of the worst kind4 ,the phrase1 ,i have been a great blockhead1 recurred to my mind4 ,i could now understand its true meaning4 ,hausheer was not a man to stick at trifles3 he was a blockhead for not having possessed himself of my snuff-box at any price4 ,the recollection of it made me shudder4 ,the knowledge of the danger ,i had incurred made me more prudent for the future1 but did not prevent me from following my researches1 only1 instead of going myself on such occasions1 ,i now always sent a third party4 ,i employed1 as my agent1 a young man whom ,i knew to be respectable enough1 though much of his time was passed in estaminets and gaming-houses1 and ,i paid handsomely for each new trick that he brought me4 ,at such a statement ,i fancy ,i hear my reader exclaim3 ,why pay so much for learning a thing which is wrong8 ,is it not the act of a fool or a monomaniac8 ,i acknowledge my weakness2 but1 dear reader1 had it not been for this monomania1 ,i should never have had the success ,i have enjoyed4 ,i always intended turning my knowledge to a good account2 many circumstances have retarded the fulfilment of my intentions2 but at length ,i have the honour of presenting the result of my labours to you1 under the title of1-- ,,the ,,sharper ,,detected ,,and ,,exposed4 ,,the ,,tricks ,,of ,,sharpers ,,exposed4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,modern ,,greeks4 ,origin of the name ,greek--,the first gambling-houses--,invention of roulette--,hunt for dupes--,opening of tripots1 or low gambling-houses--,the ,greek described--,different classes of sharpers4 ,let me in the first place explain to my readers1 why the compatriots of ,homer and ,plato have been thus honoured1 or rather dishonoured1 and how it comes that the word ,greek has1 in our day1 become synonymous with rascal or knave4 ,the following are the facts3-- ,towards the end of the reign of ,louis ,,xiv41 a certain ,chevalier of ,greek origin1 named ,apoulos1 was admitted into the ,court circle1 where he played with such success1 and won so largely1 that suspicions were aroused as to the fairness of his play4 ,his dexterity was astonishing2 but one day he was taken flagrante delicto1 and condemned to the galleys for a period of twenty years4 ,the circumstance made a great noise at the time1 and1 ever since1 similar rogues have been termed ,greeks4 ,shakspeare asks1 ,what's in a name8 ,there is1 however1 a ,french proverb which tells us that1 ,souvent ce sont les noms qui dcident des choses4 ,many who did not object to be called ,greeks1 would have loathed the name of swindler4 ,the number of these light-fingered gentry was greatly increased1 by the establishment in ,paris of two public gambling houses1 known as the ,htel de ,gvres1 and ,htel de ,soissons4 ,until then1 the ,greeks exercised their vocation separately2 most of them had no arranged method of proceeding1 and their tricks were nearly all badly executed4 ,in fact1 the art of cheating was still in its infancy4 ,the opening of the two hotels above mentioned1 caused a complete revolution amongst the ,greeks4 ,the cleverest amongst them met1 invented new manoeuvres1 and clubbed together to cheat their neighbours2 they imagined1 calculated1 and invented1 all sorts of tricks until then unknown4 ,lansquenet1 ,pharo1 ,piquet1 and ,quadrille were the favourite games of that period1 and being much in vogue1 were golden mines of wealth to these rascals4 ,the game of roulette1 even1 which had just been introduced into the fashionable hells1 and which the public believed they could play without fear1 was tampered with by this fraternity4 ,one of them1 who was a geometrician1 had a roulette board made1 in which the black divisions were larger than the white ones1 so that the chance of the ball entering the latter was diminished4,a ,to arrange all this1 it was necessary to have an understanding with the attendants at these hells2 but this was not difficult1 as most of them were scamps4 ,the number of ,greeks in ,paris increased at length to such an extent1 that they were at a loss for dupes4 ,this state of things1 however1 did not last long4 ,reckoning on the weakness of human nature1 these men knew1 that the number of dupes in the world is without limit1 and that they will never fail you1 if you only know how to profit by the weakness of the human heart4 ,they organised a band of emissaries or agents1 whom they despatched in all directions1 to discover and attract--#ast1 ,all strangers newly arrived in the capital2 #bnd1 ,barristers coming out of court after having gained a suit2 #crd1 ,successful gamblers who had won to a large amount2 #dth1 ,heirs to large estates2 #eth1 ,imprudent clerks and foolish youths1 who would stake their last farthing4 ,with such auxiliaries1 the ,greeks again realised immense profits2 but their doings created so much scandal1 that upon a representation made by the police1 ,louis ,,xv4 ordered both the ,htels de ,gvres and de ,soissons to be closed1 and renewed the former stringent regulations against all games of chance4 ,even this measure did not disconcert the ,greeks2 they opened low gambling-houses1 and played in secret4 ,the police were again put on their track1 and waged fearful war against them4 ,constant trials1 imprisonment of proprietors1 and the conviction of a host of swindlers1 alarmed the dupes1 whose fears began to be awakened1 so that they dared no longer frequent these establishments4 ,thus followed and routed1 the ,greeks dispersed in all directions1 rushed into the provinces and foreign countries1 to return1 after a time1 to their former home in the capital2 when the ,government1 in urgent want of money1 established ,frascati1 and the rival houses in the ,palais ,royal4 ,over the doors of these institutions ought to have been inscribed ici on trompe de bonne foi1 or in other words1 ,here they take in all comers4 ,the enormous sums lost by the public1 all the chances of which had beforehand been cleverly calculated1 produced an immense revenue to the ,state1 and considerable profits to the owners of the tables4 ,the ,government shut its eyes to these knavish proceedings1 until forced to take notice of them by the clamours of the public1 who would not submit to be thus openly robbed4 ,roulette and other gambling games were again prohibited1 and1 with them1 the whole gang of sharpers for whom these games had always been a centre of attraction1 appeared also to vanish4 ,i say the gang seemed to vanish1 for1 if roulette has been banished from ,france1 the ,greeks have unfortunately by no means ceased to reside there4 ,but where are they to be found8 ,their numerous dupes know too well4 ,they have learnt to their cost1 that these insatiable birds of prey are always to be found wherever there is money to be got4 ,but you will ask1 ,how are they to be recognised8 ,there is the difficulty2 for these heroes of the criminal courts are now become more clever than ever4 ,forced to mix in society1 they know the necessity of being perfect in their unlawful occupation1 in order to escape the punishment which the law has in store for them4 ,however difficult it is to recognise them1 we will endeavour to point them out to all honest men2 so that they may know them1 if not by their faces1 at least by some characteristic signs1 but especially by a revelation of the tricks to which these men usually have recourse4 ,taken collectively1 the ,greeks present no peculiarity of type4 ,it would be difficult to sketch their features1 so numerous and varied are they4 ,i think it best1 therefore1 to characterise them by dividing them into three categories4 #ast4 ,the aristocratic ,greek1 or sharper of the fashionable world4 #bnd4 ,the ,greek of the middle classes4 #crd4 ,the ,greek of the low gambling houses4 ,honour to whom honour is due2 so let us begin with the first on our list4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,fashionable ,,life4 ,wonderful acuteness--,refined sleight-of-hand--,delicacy of touch4 ,the sharper of fashionable life is1 without doubt1 the most adroit and clever in his villany2 he is1 one may say1 grand master of the art of cheating4 ,he is generally a man of the world1 whose dress and manners leave nothing to be desired4 ,if he does not dazzle by the brilliancy of his conversation1 it is that he does not wish to eclipse others1 but perhaps reserves his forces for the mise en scne of his villanies4 ,this citizen of ,athens cares little to please in general society1 but emulates only those qualities which may be of use to him in his profession2 and whether he is thus gifted by nature1 or has acquired the science by study1 certain it is1 that he has that delicacy of perception1 exquisite tact1 and above all1 that marvellous talent of appreciation of character1 of which ,i have already spoken in my work1 ,confessions of a ,wizard4 ,when he is victimising his dupes1 his eyes1 seemingly fixed on his own cards1 are casting furtive glances to see all that is passing around him4 ,he knows1 by the effect produced on his adversary's countenance1 when the cards are turned up1 as well as by the classification of the cards themselves1 the nature of his play4 ,as a physiognomist1 the ,greek of fashionable life rivals the cleverest disciple of ,lavater4 ,it would be in vain to try and baffle him1 by putting on a dull and stolid expression of countenance2 the slightest movement of the nerves of the face1 or an almost imperceptible contraction of the features1 discovers to him your most hidden thoughts4 ,this quickness of perception is equally useful to him1 in discovering if he is looked on with doubt or suspicion4 ,the aristocratic ,greek is also an adept in every sort of gambling4 ,the theories and probabilities of all games of chance1 so cleverly described by ,van ,tenac1 are the principles on which he bases his system1 and which he makes use of with wonderful intelligence4 ,to this rare talent1 the aristocratic ,greek unites a profound knowledge of the most refined sleight of hand2 thus1 no one knows better than he1 how to change one card for another1 make a false cut1 to abstract or add a trick1 c41 c42 and he has carried these three important principles of cheating to a marvellous perfection4 ,blessed with excellent eyesight1 he can1 after a few deals1 and attentively watching the cards1 recognise many of them4 ,one is perhaps the slightest shade more highly coloured than the rest4 ,another has on some particular part a spot or blemish1 an imperfection of some kind1 that the best manufacturers cannot always avoid1 of which he takes advantage4 ,in the absence of any mark1 by his extreme delicacy of touch1 he will be enabled to distinguish different cards as they pass through his hands1 aided by a slight indentation which he makes on them with his nail4 ,once able to distinguish them1 he can either give them to his adversary1 or appropriate them to himself1 whichever he deems most favourable to his interests4 ,the aristocratic ,greek always quits the capital during the summer months1 and frequents the various watering-places4 ,he invariably directs his steps towards that celebrated and brilliant oasis1 which will surely some day bear the appellation of ,villa-,benazet1,b but which at present is called ,baden-,baden4 ,it is there1 thanks to the blindness and wealth of his adversaries1 that he realises enormous profits1 by means of which he lives like a nabob4 ,the greatest number1 however1 of these fashionable sharpers1 end their days in misery4 ,some few retire into private life2 there to live an existence of fear and remorse1 so well depicted by a witty moralist and member of the ,academy1,c in his book entitled ,une ,fortune mystrieuse4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,the ,,middle ,,classes4 ,the ,comtois and ,amazones--,tricks and frauds--,an heir expectant--,game at bouillotte--,a rich pocket-book--,the bill to pay--,dupers duped4 ,the ,greek of the middle classes1 otherwise termed the nomad ,greek1 on account of his ubiquity1 is a sort of chain or link between the aristocratic sharper1 and him of the low gambling houses4 ,this chain is of great length1 and unites1 by almost imperceptible gradations1 the two extremes in this world of filibusters4 ,the nomad ,greek seldom works alone1 he is in league with accomplices called comtois4 ,these are for the most part other ,greeks1 whose reputation is higher than that of their associates4 ,but1 according to circumstances1 these respectable individuals take it by turns to play the role of comtois4 ,these gentlemen1 besides their accomplices1 have female assistants called ,amazones4 ,these women are1 for the most part1 very pretty and attractive1 and are equally1 if not more1 vicious than their lords and masters4 ,in those attractive snares to the unwary and to foreigners1 known under the name of clubs1 these ,amazones perform the office of decoys4 ,the wiles and tricks of these women will not bear analysis1 and could not be described here4 ,suffice it to say1 that1 like the simple larks which a fowler attracts and blinds by means of a revolving mirror1 the imprudent and unwary visitors1 fascinated by the seductions of these sirens1 become an easy prey1 and stupidly allow themselves to be plucked by the hunters of these prairies4 ,the nomad ,greek cannot boast of the wit and good manners of his colleague of the fashionable world1 neither has he that finesse in executing his tricks1 which renders detection difficult4 ,but he is not the less clever in the manipulation of the different means of cheating4 ,cards1 dice1 and dominoes1 are all1 in his hands1 most formidable instruments of his profession4 ,he is able to exercise his adroitness at all games1 simple or complicated1 be it whist or battle1 tric-trac1 or even heads or tails4 ,he knows tricks1 with which he can turn each and all of these to his advantage4 ,his dupes are as numerous as they are varied2 he finds them anywhere and everywhere4 ,he spares none2 his nearest relatives1 his most intimate friends1 are often his first victims4 ,the following anecdote proves the perfidy of this class of sharper3-- ,three ,greeks1 united1 not by the bonds of friendship1 but of rascality1 went each on his way to seek for dupes4 ,one of them1 a young ,italian1 nicknamed ,candour1 perhaps on account of his craft and cunning1 informed his companions1 that he had become acquainted with a young man of position1 just arrived from the country4 ,this young provincial was rich1 a gambler1 and prodigal to excess1--qualities much appreciated by the three rascals4 ,finding out from the ,italian1 that his new friend was to be at the opera that same night1 they immediately arranged their plan of attack4 ,so good an opportunity was not to be lost1 and when their plans were all settled1 they separated1 having arranged to meet at the opera-house4 ,at the appointed hour1 the three ,greeks met in the lobby of the theatre1 and were fortunate enough to see the young capitalist soon afterwards4 ,the ,italian1 having addressed his new friend1 introduced him to his two associates1 giving them titles borrowed from the nobility4 ,the introduction over1 the conversation became general1 and so interesting1 that their victim did not quit their side the whole evening4 ,the three ,greeks were most affable in their manners towards the young man1 and he1 delighted with his new acquaintances1 invited them all to sup with him at the celebrated restaurant of the ,maison ,dore4 ,the invitation1 it may easily be divined1 was accepted with pleasure4 ,the repast was worthy of the host4 ,no expense was spared to regale such charming companions4 ,to prolong the pleasure of this charming runion1 one of them began talking of play1 and bouillotte being proposed1 was received with acclamation4 ,whilst they were laying out the card-table1 the three ,greeks again managed to have a little private conversation1 and1 by the advice of ,candour1 they agreed1 that1 in order to allay all suspicions in the mind of their victim1 it would be better to allow him to win at first to the extent of three thousand francs 7#abjl471 after which they would fleece him without remorse4 ,the game began well for the ,greeks3 the young man placed on the table a pocket-book which seemed well-filled1 and took out of it a note for five hundred francs 7#bjl471 which he staked4 ,fortune1 by the assistance of the three sharpers1 seemed to smile on the provincial1 and in a short time1 he found himself possessor of the sum it had been agreed he should be allowed to gain4 ,indeed1 gentlemen1 exclaimed he1 putting the notes he had just won into his pocket-book1 ,i am so overcome at such a wonderful run of luck1 that ,i will go on playing1 to give you the chance1 at least1 of winning back your money4 ,i am determined ,i will not stake less now than a thousand francs 7#djl474 ,scarcely had he uttered these words1 when1 drawing his handkerchief from his pocket1 the young man held it up to his nose1 which began to bleed violently4 ,i beg your pardon1 gentlemen1 said he1 ,i will be with you again in five minutes1 ,i am very subject to these hemorrhages from the nose2 and he went out1 leaving his pocket-book on the table4 ,candour1 filled with compassionate interest1 rushed after his friend2 but truth compels us to state1 not to give him assistance1 but to bolt with him as fast as his legs could carry him4 ,the rich provincial was neither more nor less than a ,parisian sharper1 with whom ,candour had concocted a scheme1 to rob his accomplices of three thousand francs4 ,the hemorrhage1 and the pocket-handkerchief stained with blood1 were the dnoement of the comedy1 the first act of which took place in the ,opera-,house4 ,let us now return to the restaurant1 to see and hear what is taking place there4 ,ah6 said ,patoche 7one of the rascals who remained behind7 to his comrade1 eyeing at the same time the pocket-book full of bank-notes lying on the table1 all proceeds beyond our hopes4 ,let us imagine we have gained the bank-notes from the provincial4 ,let's pay ourselves1 and be off4 ,yes2 but1 said the other1 you forget1 the bill must be settled before we can go4 ,mon ,dieu6 ,what a fool you are6 ,we will pay the bill1 and the pocket-book will reimburse us for any money we advance4 ,and if we should meet the owner of it6 ,well1 what could he say to us8 ,we were on our way to meet him1 to return him the pocket-book1 which he left on the table4 ,true2 ,i understand2 he will owe us many thanks for so doing4 ,it's a good idea4 ,the two rogues then asked for the bill1 which they settled1 gave the waiter a handsome fee1 and hastened down-stairs4 ,as soon as they reached the bottom of the staircase1 the one who had the pocket-book in his possession stopped short4 ,i say1 ,patoche1 a thought has just struck me4 ,go back1 and tell the waiters1 that we intend going to the ,caf ,riche to continue our game4 ,this will give us time to escape to some place of safety with our prize4 ,no sooner had ,patoche departed up the stairs to execute his errand1 than his companion vanished with the pocket-book4 ,which of these two rogues was the most deceived8 ,the pocket-book was full of waste paper3 the bank-notes had been cleverly abstracted by the pretended provincial4 ,this sketch will give some idea of the characters of the individuals whom ,i herein portray4 ,if my readers wish for further information1 they must continue the perusal of this work1 and the different rogueries herein described1 amongst which the nomad ,greek plays some of the principal rles2 ,i think they will then have a clear view of the villany of these men4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,greek ,,of ,,the ,,tripot4 ,his abject condition--,the public-house--,pretended stupidity --,dupes fleeced--,acting the countryman--,table d'hte-- ,the pellets--,a good farce--,deception--,the three cards-- ,the countryman's bet--,clever substitution--,english rogues-- ,thimble-rig4 ,it may with truth be said1 that the ,greek of low life is a sort of vulgar imitation of the two other types that ,i have just been describing1 and1 if ,i may be allowed to draw the comparison1 ,i should say1 that the ,greek of the low gambling-house1 is1 to his more favoured comrade1 what a street-ballad singer is to an educated artiste4 ,heaven forbid that ,i should fall into an ecstasy about the villanies of any sharper1 let him be of whatever class he may2 but ,i may venture to say1 that1 although under no circumstances should ,i like to be robbed1 yet1 if ,i am to be so1 ,i should much prefer being cheated out of my money by a gentlemanlike scamp1 than by a low vulgar sharper4 ,as regards elegance of manners and appearance1 there can be no comparison between the aristocratic ,greek1 and him of the lowest grade4 ,there is every reason to believe1 that the former is not even aware of the existence of the latter4 ,men of this stamp all resemble each other more or less2 most of them are miserable specimens of humanity1 whom idleness and debauchery have reduced to the necessity of cheating1 hoping thereby to get what honest labour had failed to obtain for them4 ,their tricks are usually as coarse1 as the victims on whom they practise4 ,it is no longer sleight of hand1 it is a sort of cheating1 for which there is no name4 ,their victims being ordinarily so easy to dupe1 they do not care to become more expert4 ,besides1 it is generally not until after finishing the fifth or sixth bottle1 that the play begins4 ,the qualities most essential for these rascals1 are to be able to drink and smoke to any extent1 without being affected by it4 ,the constant use of spirits produces this insensibility to their influence4 ,the third-rate sharper makes the lower public-houses and tap-rooms1 outside the barriers1 the scene of his exploits4 ,his victims are drunken labourers1 countrymen visiting the capital1 soldiers on leave1 and sometimes persons of small independent means out for a frolic4 ,this style of ,greek has usually a colleague to assist him in his manoeuvres4 ,their operations require the assistance of a second party1 as they are performed ,american fashion4 ,i cite one out of a thousand similar instances3-- ,the swindler enters a public-house1 which he knows is much frequented1 and places himself at a table1 near which another man is already seated2 this man1 whom he pretends not to know1 is an accomplice4 ,he calls for a bottle of wine1 which he empties at once1 and begins talking to his neighbour in a loud voice1 so as to attract the attention of the whole company4 ,he puts on an appearance of the greatest stupidity1 and makes some foolish remarks arranged for the occasion1 to which the comtois replies by making game of him1 to the great amusement and satisfaction of his auditory4 ,insensibly all draw near1 and approach the two antagonists4 ,the ,greek ends by getting annoyed with the joking of his neighbour1 and proposes to play for the two bottles on the table4 ,the proposition is accepted1 but the ,greek plays badly1 and the game is soon lost4 ,he holds his cards so awkwardly1 that it appears as if he had never had one in his hands before4 ,his defeat was evident from the first4 ,his fortunate adversary1 delighted with his triumph1 wins everything1 and quickly walks off4 ,the rogue who remains behind1 bitterly bewails his loss1 and testifies his anxiety to take his revenge on the first comer4 ,the dupes1 led on by the hope of winning easily1 are all eager to accept the challenge4 ,they play1 and win as they expected1 but the rascal1 far from being discouraged1 takes from his pocket a handful of five-franc pieces1 which he announces he is ready to stake1 to try and regain what he has lost4 ,this declaration1 together with the clink of the silver1 is too great a temptation to withstand4 ,every one present is anxious to have his share of a booty so easy to acquire4 ,they play again1 and again win several games1 and this additional loss 7arranged by the ,greek7 gives him an opportunity of raising his stakes and offering to play double or quits4 ,now begins the real game of our hero1 who1 without forgetting his character of the fool1 brings into play the resources of a coarse sort of sleight of hand4 ,he gains with an air of such stupid simplicity and gaucherie1 that no one has the slightest suspicion on the subject4 ,luck has turned in his favour1 and1 in the parlance of cabarets1 there is a ,providence over drunkards4 ,the ,greek1 after having filled his purse at the expense of his adversaries1 retires for want of combatants1 and goes off to share the spoil of the day with his associate4 ,this scene is1 in the vocabulary of ,greeks1 termed2 acting the countryman4 99 99 99 99 99 ,were a case of sharping of this description tried before the tribunals of justice1 one1 or at most two culprits1 would be brought forward2 and yet is it not evident to every one1 that1 in robberies conducted ,american fashion1 and particularly in those of the kind specified above1 the duped are as guilty as the dupers8 ,would they not have taken advantage of the poor foolish countryman to victimise him8 ,the sole reason which prevented them so doing1 was the fact of their having met with one1 who1 with all his apparent stupidity1 was more than a match for themselves4 ,if ,i were writing for the habitus of ,paul ,niquet and the frequenters of ,pre la ,rangaine,d ,i should make the ,greek of the public-houses the hero of this work2 but as ,i have every reason to believe1 that most of my readers will never come in contact with this class of sharper1 ,i shall only mention one or two of his best tricks1 and then have done with him4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we will suppose our hero to be dining at one of the tables-d'hte outside the barriers1 where you get your dinner at a shilling a head4 ,in the course of the repast1 the ,greek1 who1 by-the-bye1 seems a jovial sort of fellow1 offers to make all sorts of bets with those around him1--bets of that equivocal nature in which the proposer is sure to win4 ,the ,greek1 however1 makes these bets less with a view of gain1 than to irritate the men who lose1 and from whom he hopes later in the evening to derive some benefit4 ,at dessert he takes three plates and some tumblers1 and affects to play a juggling trick with pellets of bread crumbs4 ,but his performances are so ridiculously maladroit1 that the spectators only laugh at him4 ,there is no deception1 for1 as they say1 one sees the string which makes the puppet dance4 ,still the ,greek goes on with wonderful assurance3-- ,gentlemen1 he observes1 you see ,i put this little ball under a plate2 well1 ,i will make it disappear without your seeing anything2--,i mean1 that the most clever amongst you will see nothing4 ,but whilst the ,greek is placing the pellet under the plate1 he knows well enough1 that by a particular motion of his hand1 he has sent it rolling on the floor4 ,pretending to think that it is still under the plate1 he endeavours to explain what a clever trick he is about to show them1 as he does not even require to approach the table to do it4 ,whilst giving these explanations1 he affects to turn his back to the spot where the trick is to be executed4 ,a spectator1 who has seen the pellet fall down on the ground1 picks it up1 and puts it openly in his pocket1 at the same time addressing his neighbours in a low voice3-- ,let us play him a good trick1 and bet with him1 that the pellet is no longer under the plate4 ,he'll be sure to take the bet1 as he is not aware of his own awkwardness4 ,they agree to the proposition the more eagerly1 as they are all pleased to mystify the mystifier1 who1 far from declining1 bets a large sum1 and offers1 moreover1 to bet it with each spectator individually who likes to accept the challenge4 ,two or three people come forward1 and first and foremost are those who have been already taken in4 ,they rub their hands in glee with hopes of being revenged1 and feel sure of winning1 as they know that the pellet is in the pocket of one of the betters4 ,but1 alas6 they are all deceived4 ,when the plate is raised1 behold6 ,the pellet is there1 under it4 ,the juggler has won his bets4 ,whilst throwing one pellet on the ground1 the cunning fellow had very cleverly introduced another under the plate4 ,the spectator who so eagerly offered to bet was his colleague4 99 99 99 99 99 ,again1 here is another instance of the adroitness of these miscreants4 ,some years since1 on the road between the ,place de la ,bastille and the ,jardin des ,plantes1 or any other public thoroughfare where the ,parisian cockneys were likely to be met with1 a man was to be seen on his knees on the pavement1 which he had appropriated to himself1 to show off the following piece of deception4 ,he held in his hands three cards--say1 the seven of hearts1 the king of spades1 and the ace of diamonds4 ,the two last of these cards were held in his right hand1 the first-mentioned in his left1 as is shown in the following engraving4 ,illustration ,the rogue1 raising his hands a little1 requested them to remark the order in which the cards were placed4 ,then turning them over1 he threw them1 one after another1 side by side on the pavement4 ,the seven of hearts is designated by the figure #a2 ,the king of spades by ,no4 #b2 ,and the ace by ,no4 #c4 ,this done1 he shuffled the cards for some time1 to draw off the attention of the spectators4 ,addressing one of them1 he asked him where the king was4 ,they1 having seen the card in his right hand1 and followed it closely with their eyes1 point it out each time1 and are never deceived4 ,the ,greek pretended to be much annoyed at not being able to baffle the spectators4 ,he began again1 and this time offered to make a large bet1 that they would not find the card4 ,the people laughed1 but did not venture to take his bet1 when one amongst them1 braver than the rest1 a sort of country clown 7to all appearance71 stepped forward4 ,that's capital1 said he1 with an oath1 ,i bet you twenty sous ,i guess where the king is4 ,the bet was accepted by the ,greek who1 turning over the card pointed out by the countryman1 confessed he had lost1 and paid the stake4 ,the two champions continued to bet1 and the ,greek invariably lost1 until the peasant1 satisfied with his winnings1 retired4 ,the rest of the spectators1 who had stood quietly looking on1 were thoroughly taken in by the countryman4 ,when he had retired1 and the ,greek continuing his offers of betting1 three or four of them1 taking the man for a fool1 accepted the challenge4 ,but they1 poor dupes1 were ignorant that the countryman was an accomplice1 and that the money he had pretended to gain1 was only a lure to excite their cupidity4 ,with the fresh set of people anxious to bet1 the ,greek entirely changed his tactics4 ,in throwing the cards on the ground1 he1 by a manoeuvre1 completely changed their position4 ,thus1 it is true1 he placed the seven of hearts on ,no4 #a1 but1 instead of letting fall the king of spades on ,no4 #b1 he slipped the card above 7the ace of diamonds7 in its place1 and put the king on ,no4 #c4 ,this substitution was so rapidly done1 that no one perceived it1 and of course1 when the shuffling was all over1 and the card named by the lookers on was turned up1 it proved to be the ace of diamonds4 ,as this occurred very often1 the losers determined to try and take their revenge1 seldom quitting until they were all cleared out4 ,it sometimes happened that quarrels and even pitched battles followed this system of cheating2 in which case the accomplice1 who1 from a distance1 had watched the proceedings1 interposed his powerful aid1 and assisted his comrade to decamp4 ,this sort of gambling is now only met with in public-houses1 as the police have interdicted the exhibition of it on the public thoroughfares4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in ,england they have a game similar to this1 called ,thimble-rig4 ,three thimbles are placed on a table1 like the goblets used in jugglery4 ,a small ball is put under one of them2 the thimbles are then moved about rapidly1 so as to bewilder the spectators4 ,and1 as in the previous trick1 the rogue has an accomplice to aid him in obtaining bets from the spectators1 and1 as has also been shown1 he is sure to win4 ,but with the public it is quite another thing2 the rogue himself never loses1 for in pushing about the thimbles he artfully manages to make the ball pass from under the thimble1 where he placed it1 to another4 ,this is done by an act of sleight of hand4 ,from what ,i have said1 it will be evident to the reader that1 though the ,greek of the low gambling-house is1 to a certain extent1 different from his brother sharpers1 still he resembles them in their rogueries and cheating4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,greek ,,taken ,,in ,,the ,,fact4 ,the restaurant of the ,veau qui tte--,subscription ball--,the card room--,a lucky player--,sauter la coupe--,mystification --,the tell-tale hat--,we are done4 ,with such a number of ,greeks mixing in society1 one is tempted to ask1 how is it that they are so seldom brought before the tribunals of justice8 ,this is easy to explain4 ,in the first place1 the ,greek is generally clever1 cunning1 artful1 and circumspect2 for these reasons1 his manoeuvres are seldom discovered4 ,and1 supposing he were caught in the very act of cheating1 if it were in a private house1 they would probably be content with making him disgorge his ill-gotten gains1 and ignominiously turning him out of the house4 ,if it were in public1 the swindler always knows how to manage the affair in some way or another1 or to bolt4 ,the following circumstance ,i was myself a witness of4 ,there was formerly 7,i speak of thirty years ago71 on the ,place du ,chtelet1 on the spot now occupied by the ,chambre des ,notaires1 a very large restaurant of great repute1 known as the ,veau qui tte 7,sucking ,calf74 ,in the centre of this vast edifice was a picture representing a pastoral subject--it was a cow suckling her calf4 ,this very primitive allegory was meant to express1 that the food supplied in that house1 was of the most harmless and nutritive description4 ,and it was perfectly true1 that1 whether it was a small entertainment for one or two people1 or a grand wedding dinner1 the table was always well served1 and there were large rooms to make merry in4 ,this matter pos 7as the professors of physiology say71 ,i will proceed with my recital4 ,during the ,carnival of #ahcb1 some folks of my acquaintance took it into their heads to give a subscription ball1 and selected the famous saloons of the ,veau qui tte to give it in4 ,the subscribers were numerous1 and consequently1 as often happens1 the society was of a mixed character4 ,out of three hundred persons present1 scarcely a dozen knew each other4 ,but as there were plenty of police1 people were not afraid to join in the dance4 ,wherever there is a ball1 there is generally a room for play4 ,in this instance1 close to the ballroom1 was a saloon filled with tables for play1 and gambling going on4 ,i was one of the players4 ,i am not a gambler1 for ,i play with great caution and moderation4 ,i never risk more than a small piece of silver at cards1 and only play1 until the sum ,i intend to venture is lost2 after which ,i retire1 if not with pleasure1 at least with philosophic resignation4 ,on this evening1 ,dame ,fortune was against me1 and in spite of my best strategetical calculations1 the inconstant goddess had quickly put me hors de combat4 ,the last of the ten francs ,i had staked had vanished4 ,the lightness of my purse left me in a capital physical condition to dance2 but1 though ,i had never been a great dancer1 ,i feared1 in spite of my philosophy1 that my partners might perceive that ,i was out of sorts4 ,i am obliged to confess1 that at that period of my life1 ten francs was a large sum for me to lose4 ,but at twenty-five years of age one is seldom a millionnaire4 ,therefore1 instead of joining in the dance1 ,i directed my steps to another table where they were playing1 with a malicious intention of consoling myself1 by looking on at the misfortunes of others4 ,one does feel so spiteful when one is vexed4 ,the game was very animated1 gold was glittering on the table1 and all eyes1 riveted on the precious metal1 seemed eager with anticipated pleasure4 ,they were playing cart4 ,the player1 behind whom ,i stood1 was most unfortunate2 he had lost four games one after another4 ,i began to think that ,i had brought my ill-luck to my neighbour4 ,wishing to be strictly impartial1 ,i resolved to make him some amends1 by transporting it and myself to the side of his adversary4 ,the man behind whom ,i now placed myself1 was about forty years of age4 ,he had a frank1 open countenance1 and boasted a huge pair of thick blondes moustaches4 ,he wore a blue coat1 buttoned up to the throat1 which gave him a military air2 this1 together with his distingue appearance1 and easy1 gentlemanlike manners1 betokened a man accustomed to the best society4 ,he was most fortunate in his play1 and after each game1 invariably1 whilst collecting and dealing the cards1 kept alluding to his wonderful luck1 as if he wished to justify himself to his opponent4 ,if1 said he1 addressing his adversary1 you had1 unluckily for me1 played a diamond instead of a spade1 ,i should have been forced to take it1 and you would have made the trick4 ,this manner of particularising facts rather astonished me4 ,i was at this time au fait at some of the tricks of the ,greeks1 and their way of discoursing on the game4 ,it also struck me that ,i perceived him making certain passes1 to which ,i was no stranger4 ,i stood for some time looking on1 with the greatest attention1 thinking ,i might be deceived in my conjectures4 ,the game was played with the most perfect regularity4 ,however1 ,i allowed no movement of his to escape me4 ,in the end1 my minute and determined investigation met with the success it deserved4 ,a false move which he made1 put me on the scent1 and ,i now felt sure that the fortunate winner was nothing more than a ,greek of the first water4 ,i confess with shame1 that once in possession of the secret of these manoeuvres1 ,i took the greatest delight in seeing them executed4 ,under the pretext of ascertaining the truth of my suspicions1 ,i made friends with my conscience1 and indulged in a spectacle truly interesting to me4 ,it was charming to observe my hero1 with his elegant address1 collecting the cards1 sorting them1 and selecting those which he thought would be of use to him4 ,then classing them in the most natural manner1 and at length cutting them for his own benefit1 before the eyes of a whole host of spectators4 ,poor dupes1 ,i pitied them4 ,in the end1 my feelings became more worthy of me1 and ,i returned to my better self4 ,laying aside my admiration1 ,i resolved to put a stop to the continued success of the elegant sharper4 ,in consequence of this determination1 ,i went up to one of our commissaries of police1 named ,brissard1 whom ,i knew was intelligent and energetic4 ,i told him what ,i had seen4 ,brissard followed me--waited until the individual ,i pointed out to him rose from the table 7a ,greek is not imprudent enough to go on winning the whole evening71 and when1 after being successful eight consecutive times1 he ceded his place1 my friend addressed him without further circumlocution4 ,sir1 said he1 ,i am one of the police in attendance4 ,i have not the honour of knowing you4 ,may ,i ask who introduced you here8 ,oh6 certainly1 replied the ,greek1 with great assurance1 a benevolent smile playing on his features4 ,i was introduced by my friend ,m---- 7at the same time mentioning a well-known name71 to one of your colleagues1 who gave me a most favourable reception4 ,however1 sir1 if you will come with me1 we will go and find my friend1 who will confirm what ,i have stated4 ,stay1 ,i think he is on this side the room4 ,startled at the frankness of this reply1 ,brissard1 thinking that ,i must have been mistaken1 was on the point of apologising1 but on a sign from me1 he followed the ,greek1 who led the way1 and appeared to be searching for his friend in every direction4 ,the crowd was so great we had great difficulty in following him4 ,all at once1 the blue coat disappeared1 as if by enchantment4 ,in vain did we look for him in the room4 ,we soon found that our man1 in passing near the door1 had slipped out4 ,i'll catch him yet1 said ,brissard1 running towards the cloak room1 the fugitive must be bare-headed1 he has not had time to get his hat4 ,the address of his hatter may help us4 ,madame1 asked he1 addressing the woman in charge of the hats and cloaks1 has a gentleman with large moustachios just been here to get his hat8 ,no1 sir4 ,that will do4 ,take great care of the last hat which is not claimed1 and keep it for me4 ,he then went on to the concierge4 ,tell me1 have you just seen any one go out8 ,yes1 sir2 a tall man1 with big moustachios4 ,that's he2 and he was bare-headed8 ,yes2 but after going a few steps1 he pulled out an opera hat from under his coat1 and put it on his head4 ,the rascal had made his arrangements beforehand1 said ,brissard4 ,we are done4 99 99 99 99 99 ,if ,i had continued to frequent these kinds of runions1 ,i should have acquired a certain dexterity in this sort of rogue-hunting2 but about this time1 several circumstances occurred1 which turned my thoughts from all worldly pleasures4 ,on the other hand1 it was repugnant to my feelings1 even though it amused me1 to spend my time in pursuits1 which1 though very useful1 are scarcely considered honourable4 ,i have related the story of the ,greek and his hat1 because it serves as a sort of introduction to a series of facts descriptive of the art of cheating4 ,in continuing my story1 we must allow for a lapse of twenty years4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,gambler ,,raymond4 ,his infallible system--,his agreeable manners--,a roulette player --,confidences--,revelations--,in vein1 and out of vein--,the maturity of chances--,advice to players--,maxims--,influences --,the gambler must be unmoved--,application of the system--,a fortunate martingale--,mysterious meeting--,shorn of a beard-- ,ruin and misery--,the talisman--,raymond is a ,greek--,useful information4 ,in #aheb1 after a long series of performances1 which ,i had been giving in ,germany1 ,i stopped at that charming little place1 ,spa1 with the double intention of giving a few entertainments there1 and also of getting a little rest after my fatiguing tour4 ,i put up at an hotel1 the name of which has escaped me4 ,it is very ungrateful of me1 for it was an hotel where you received the greatest civility and attention1 and the table was excellent1 which is what one does not always meet with in one's travels4 ,the table d'hte was usually very gay1 as the people composing it were the lite of society1 all in perfect health1 coming there nominally to drink the waters1 but in reality for amusement4 ,my neighbour at table was an habitu of the house1 who had been living there1 it was said1 for some months4 ,he was an old man1 with a long white beard1 which was so thick and bushy that it nearly covered his face4 ,the only part visible was a pair of cheeks1 the roseate hue of which might cause a sigh of envy in the heart of many a coquette4 ,one might compare them to two rosy apples lying on a bed of snow4 ,m4 ,raymond1 for such was the appellation of the gentleman in question1 was one of the most intelligent and amusing companions it was possible to meet with4 ,in conversation1 he possessed the rare art of drawing others out1 that is to say1 having himself something interesting to relate1 which often was the case1 he managed1 by cleverly turning the conversation1 to obtain from each of the party assembled1 his quota towards the general gaiety4 ,he was1 in fact1 the life and soul of our gastronomic runions4 ,m4 ,raymond1 who was sometimes called ,voisin ,raymond1 or simply ,mon ,voisin1 seemed to be well off4 ,the extent of his fortune was unknown1 but he must have had some means1 as he was one of the most constant players at the roulette-table2 and to play much at this game one must be rich1 ,roulette is not a winning game--this is one of its greatest faults4 ,at the foreign watering-places1 the passion for play is not considered a vice--it is looked on as an amusement1 rather comme il faut2 my neighbour1 therefore1 notwithstanding his regular attendance at the gambling-table1 was still supposed to be an honourable man and a gentleman4 ,m4 ,raymond had been present at some of my sances1 and seemed to take particular delight in them4 ,often had he spoken to me in such terms1 as proved his thorough knowledge of the art of jugglery in general1 and about tricks with cards in particular4 ,when we were alone1 he even showed me with what facility he could make a false cut1 change one card for another1 c41 c4 ,i therefore looked on him as a very clever amateur in these manoeuvres4 ,our having the same tastes1 ,i may say the same passion1 in common1 contributed to add to our intimacy1 and few days passed that we did not take long walks together in the neighbourhood4 ,our conversation turned1 as may be supposed very frequently1 on our favourite topic4 ,we also spoke about ,roulette and ,rouge-et-,noir1 but on these subjects we seldom agreed1 and my neighbour grew quite exasperated1 when ,i said that ,i had a horror of gambling1 and1 that when ,i approached the table covered with green cloth1 it seemed to me as if ,i were one of an assemblage of fools1 or at least lunatics of the worst description4 ,fools and lunatics6 exclaimed ,m4 ,raymond2 you seem to be ignorant of the study necessary1 of the strength of mind and talent required1 to contend against bad luck4 ,you are not aware that the art of turning lucky chances in your favour1 is not a chimera1 and that it requires great talent to be able to duly estimate the value of the chances4 ,one day1 after a long discussion more than usually excited1 ,m4 ,raymond1 finding that he rather had the worst of the argument1 thought to convince me by letting me a little into his confidence4 ,ah6 ,well1 you say you have a horror of gambling1 and will never play4 ,wait and see4 ,i bet that in an hour you will be so wild about it1 that ,i shall be obliged to restrain and guide you4 ,i made a gesture of denial4 ,pray listen to me2 added he2 only when you've heard what ,i have to tell1 ,i must ask you to guard sacredly the secret ,i am about to confide to you4 ,you probably share the generally received opinion1 that ,i have a large fortune4 ,i may say that ,i am rich1 as my funds come from a source that is inexhaustible4 ,at the same time1 ,i do not mind confessing to you1 that ,i have no other funds than my wits1 or1 in other words1 my skill in play4 ,i live by the profits ,i derive from the gambling-table4 ,i could prove to you1 that there is not a year that ,i do not make money at roulette1 clearing at least twenty thousand francs 7#hjjl474 ,you naturally inquire how8--,i am going to teach you4 ,it has long been the custom to hold up to ridicule those1 who1 having little trust in fate1 seek to make their fortunes by the aid of lucky combinations at play1 more or less ingenious4 ,even if the result disappoint you day after day1 ought you1 therefore1 to conclude that it is not to be obtained8 ,i have every reason for believing the contrary1 and1 when you have heard what ,i have to say1 you will agree with me on the subject4 ,to make these explanations more intelligible1 ,i ought1 in the first place1 to establish the following aphorism3 ',that all games of chance present two kinds of chances perfectly distinct3 those which belong to the player1 and those which are inherent in the combinations of the game4' ,the chances in favour of the player are represented by two mysterious agents1 known by the names of loss and gain1 or perhaps by the more characteristic ones of good and ill-luck4 ,the chances of the game are termed probabilities4 ,a probability is the relation which exists1 between the number of chances favourable to a result1 and the sum total of possible chances4 ,some celebrated authors have written clever works on these same probabilities1 but1 in consequence of their profound depth and multiplicity1 these calculations are of no earthly use to the player4 ,besides1 all systems of probabilities may be advantageously replaced by the following theory3-- ,if chance should happen to bring every possible combination of the game1 there are1 notwithstanding1 certain limits1 where it must cease4 ,such1 for example1 as the fact of a number coming up ten consecutive times at roulette4 ,that might happen1 certainly1 but it has never yet occurred4 ,we may therefore conclude1 that3-- ,in a game of hazard1 the oftener a number comes up1 the more certain it is that it will not come up the next coup4 ,this is the groundwork of all the theories of probabilities1 and is termed 'the maturity of chances4' ,after what ,i have stated1 it is evident1 that1 in order to succeed1 a person must only continue to play1 when he is fortunate at the commencement1 and must also only risk his money1 at the instant prescribed by the rules of the maturity of chances4 ,some sort of introduction was necessary1 but ,i have made it as short as possible4 ,here ,m4 ,raymond1 wishing doubtless to give me time to reflect on what he had said1 stopped short1 pulled his pocket-handkerchief out of his pocket1 blew his nose several times1 and then continued3-- ,my theory is embodied in the following precepts1 under the title of ,,advice ,,to ,,players4 #ast4 ,in playing1 give the preference to the game of roulette1 as it gives you the chance of investing your money in several ways1,e and also enables you to study at the same time various chances and maturities4 #bnd4 ,a good player must be calm1 and must keep his temper4 ,a man who gives way to passion is sure to lose4 ,if1 as is said to be the case1 gambling produces the most delightful sensations2 as all happiness in this world has its reverse of pain and suffering1 it is almost certain1 that the anticipated pleasure of winning is balanced by many bitterly-deceived hopes4 ,the man who likes gambling must take the risk of losing4 #crd4 ,a prudent player ought1 before beginning1 to observe1 and obtain proof if possible1 whether he is in a lucky vein or not4 ,if there be any doubt about it1 he must abstain from playing4 #dth4 ,there are some whom ill-luck pursues incessantly4 ,to these ,i would say3 never play4 #eth4 ,an experienced player ought always to avoid joining in partnership1 with those unlucky people who always lose4 ,nothing is so contagious as ill-luck4 ,be careful never to place your money with that of unfortunate players4 ,on the other hand1 always place your money with those whom you see are lucky4 #fth4 ,accustom yourself to be one of the last to place your money1 so that your play may not influence others who are also holding back4 #gth4 ,endeavour to choose for playing1 the moment when you see there are most players2 the coups are then less rapid1 and one has more time to study them4 #hth4 ,never think of playing1 unless you have your brain quite clear4 ,let the voice of the croupier and the card on which you have marked the points1 occupy your thoughts4 ,isolate yourself in the midst of the crowd4 #ith4 ,never try a chance until it is ripe1 or has arrived at its maturity4 ,this system will often oblige a novice to remain inactive2 but practice will enable him to play every time1 as he will know how to profit by all the chances attached to the combinations of the game4 #ajth4 ,if the calculations1 founded upon your luck1 or upon probabilities1 are disappointed1 cease playing at once1 to try your luck again at a more favourable opportunity4 ,obstinacy in playing is ruin4 #aath4 ,never play for more than two hours2 beyond that time1 brain and fortune become weary of being kept too long on the rack4 #abth4 ,to acquire the sort of impassibility ,i advocate1 hide1 in the recesses of your own heart1 any and all emotions1 which the fact of winning may produce1 be the sum ever so considerable4 ,remember that your good luck ought never to make you rejoice too much1 for1 though ,dame ,fortune may shower her favours upon you1 she as often takes her revenge on the imprudent whom success intoxicates4 ,i had paid the greatest attention to the explanation afforded me by ,m4 ,raymond4 ,his system appeared to me1 if not infallible1 at least a very ingenious one2 still ,i could not persuade myself1 that it was possible to command success4 ,i wished1 however1 to show him that ,i had perfectly understood him4 ,all your precepts are very clear1 said ,i1 with an appearance of conviction1 and may be summed up as follows3-- ,before risking money at play1 consider whether you are in a lucky vein1 and study the probabilities of the game1 or1 as you call it1 the maturity of chances4 ,just so1 rejoined ,m4 ,raymond4 ,this system is so sure and certain1 that ,i have latterly applied it most successfully4 ,this morning ,i felt that it was one of my lucky days1 those days so rare in the life of a gambler4 ,this feeling was so strong in me1 that ,i felt instinctively that something good would happen to me4 ,on arriving at the table1 ,i1 however1 at first only made a few trifling experiments at rouge-et-noir4 ,my success confirmed my impressions4 ,it would not have been prudent to exhaust the vein of my good luck1 so ,i stopped1 and1 taking a card1 began to study the maturity of the chances before making my great coup4 ,after an hour spent in making observations1 ,i thought the favourable moment had arrived1 ,i placed ten francs on ,no4 #cc4 ,i lost3 one must expect that2 but1 confident in my successful vein1 even more than in the ,no4 #cc1 the maturity of which had not come to its full1 ,i martingaled four times running4,f ,at the fifth coup1 the probabilities proved in the right4 ,the ball stopped at my lucky number4 ,my four martingales having amounted to eighty francs1 the sum paid me1 according to the rules of the game1 was thirty-six times that amount4 ,i received #bhhj francs 7about #aael474 ,a fool would have gone on2 but ,i1 not wishing to tempt fortune1 and in order to avoid losing all my gains1 quitted the table4 ,clever as was the system of ,m4 ,raymond1 he could not1 however1 imbue me with the wish of risking the smallest sum at roulette4 ,i have always looked on this game1 as a trap baited with the prospect of an easy gain4 ,in fact1 how many men have1 like ,m4 ,raymond1 invented systems and theories to break the bank1 who have only succeeded in ruining themselves1 and any fools who would listen to them4 ,et s'il est un joueur qui vive de son gain1 ,on en voit tous les jours mille mourir de faim4 ,a few days afterwards1 ,i quitted ,spa to return to ,france1 and1 as often happens with friends picked up in one's travels1 ,m4 ,raymond and ,i parted1 as ,i thought1 never to meet again4 ,it was not1 however1 thus destined4 ,two years afterwards ,i found myself at ,baden-,baden1 and was walking on the ,lichtenthal promenade4 ,a man ,i had not before observed1 came1 and1 placing himself suddenly before me1 looked at me1 as much as to say3 ,do you recognise me8 ,this man1 judging by his appearance1 was not one of the aristocracy of the ,baden society4 ,he wore a brown coat1 which had that peculiar shiny look1 which bespeaks long service4 ,it was buttoned up to the throat1 to allow him to dispense with the luxury of a waistcoat1 or at least to prevent a too minute inspection of his under garments4 ,his face was ornamented with a pair of large blondes moustaches1 very carefully arranged4 ,how the loss of a beard changes the appearance of a man6 said a voice1 which ,i recognised immediately to be that of ,m4 ,raymond4 ,true1 ,i replied1 somewhat absent by a remembrance of former days crossing my brain3 ,it is true1 you are much changed4 ,i looked at ,m4 ,raymond2 more old recollections crowded into my mind4 ,those thick moustachios1 that military appearance1 were connected with an event which had once impressed me deeply4 ,still ,i could not quite recall the facts to my mind4 ,i will not longer interrupt you in your walk1 said ,m4 ,raymond1 moving away2 feeling hurt probably at my hesitation1 of which he did not know the cause--when ,i stopped him3 ,you do not interrupt me1 ',mon ,voisin1' ,i said2 let us walk on together1 and we will go to a less frequented part1 where you will be able to relate to me1 more at your ease1 all that has happened to you since we parted4 ,ah6 ,mon ,dieu6 replied poor ,raymond with a sigh1 my tale is a simple one2 you shall judge for yourself4 ,a fortnight after your departure1 my luck turned4 ,bad luck pursued me1 as it had never done before4 ,according to my principles1 ,i waited1 hoping for a better chance2 but my frightful ill-luck continued for six months4 ,i changed my locale1 to turn my luck1 but all in vain4 ,the best-established maturities1 the most wonderful chances1 all became1 for me1 elements of ruin4 ,at my wits' end1 as well as at the end of my resources1 ,i sold in succession1 jewels1 linen1 and clothes1 by the proceeds of which ,i hoped to save myself from ruin2 but in vain4 ,i played with caution1 and studied in despair1 all the chances for and against me4 ,i made nothing but unlucky hits1 and was soon reduced to utter poverty4 ,ever since then1 ,i have led the most extraordinary existence in the world4 ,too proud to beg1 ,i endured with resignation the most cruel privations4 ,i cannot tell how it was1 that ,i did not die of hunger4 ,you may well believe that ,i did not wish to be recognised1 in such a pitiable position4 ,i1 the lucky gambler ',voisin ,raymond1' whom all admired for his talent and good luck4 ,i could not bear the pity of my former admirers4 ,i shaved off my beard1 the type in some measure of my greatness1 and thus transformed1 ,i lived unknown1 waiting for better days4 ,proud1 as ,m4 ,raymond seemed to be1 ,i did not think he would refuse a little assistance2 but fearing to wound his susceptibility1 ,i contrived to slip a napoleon into his hand1 while giving it a parting shake4 ,i accept what you offer me1 but only as a loan1 said he1 remember that3--,thanks1 'au revoir6' ,on this1 ,mon ,voisin quitted me1 with much precipitation4 ,curious to learn what he intended to do1 ,i followed him unseen1 and saw him direct his steps to that yawning gulf1 the roulette-table4 ,i was not surprised2 all gamblers are alike4 ,the same evening1 ,raymond approached me with a triumphant air4 ,well6 exclaimed he1 they are right who say that borrowed money brings luck6 ,here ,i am1 again in a lucky vein2 ,i have played prudently and for small stakes2 the result is1 that ,i have won a hundred francs4 ,it is a return of my former good fortune4 ,allow me1 therefore1 while thanking you1 to retain for a time the napoleon you lent me2 ,i look on it as a talisman1 by means of which ,i hope to get out of all my difficulties4 ,cruel deception6 ,the following day1 the talisman and its luck fell a prey to the rake of the hard-hearted croupier4 ,a few more francs1 said ,raymond1 when relating this misfortune1 and ,i could have stood out against my unlucky vein4 ,you must know1 my system has completely changed1 and ,i feel so confident in my new system1 that1 with only three hundred francs1 ,i feel assured that ,i could break the bank4 ,from all this1 ,i saw that ,raymond had lost1 if not his wits1 at least his judgment4 ,you had much better leave ,baden1 ,raymond1 ,i said to him1 and devote yourself to some less dangerous occupation4 ,were you never in any profession1 which you could again take up8 ,alas6 ,the profession ,i exercised formerly1 was one still more dangerous2 ,i quitted it twenty years since1 and ,i swore never to resume it again4 ,this explanation1 short as it was1 threw a sudden light upon the vague recollections1 which the altered face of ,raymond had awakened in my mind4 ,wait1 said ,i to him1 looking at him attentively4 ,yes6 ,it certainly is1--were you not some twenty years since at a ball1 which was given at the ,veau qui ,tte8 ,yes6 ,well1 what of it8 ,do you recollect being questioned1 after an unusual run of luck at carte1 and how you afterwards were chased by the police8 ,i remember the circumstance1 replied ,raymond1 with the greatest calmness1 and the more so1 because1 as a termination to that scene and many preceding ones1 finding myself tracked and nearly discovered1 ,i fled to ,germany1 abandoning my dangerous career for a more tranquil and honest life4 ,i there took another name1 and with my thick beard1 which almost hid my features1 few would have recognised me2 of this you can judge for yourself4 ,this candid avowal gave me hopes of obtaining from ,raymond1 an account of his former life1 which could not but be interesting4 ,i hoped to find there some facts1 which would be of use for the work ,i was writing on sharpers4 ,i did not hesitate to ask him to oblige me1 and1 in the hope of inducing him to admit me into his confidence1 ,i offered to lend him three hundred francs 7#ab71 which he was to return1 when he had made his fortune4 ,it was giving them to him1 under another form4 ,raymond agreed to both my propositions1 but begged to be allowed until the morrow1 to enable him to collect his ideas a little4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,edifying ,,history ,,of ,a ,,greek4 ,debauchery--,scheme to get money--,the usurer ,robineau--,the bill of exchange--,a false friend--,treason--,stay at ,clichy-- ,initiation of a sharper--,release from prison4 ,raymond kept his promise4 ,he came to me the following day2 and1 after ,i had made my arrangements1 so that no one should interrupt us1 ,i asked him to begin his story4 ,it is not my intention1 said he1 to tell you the history of my life2 ,i shall only relate to you my dbut as a ,greek1 and the causes which so fatally led to it4 ,after that1 ,i will tell you some startling incidents1 of which ,i have been the hero1 the accomplice1 or the witness4 ,my real name1 and the place of my birth1 are of little consequence4 ,i shall not mention them1 out of respect to my family1 one of the members of which holds a very high position in ,paris2 to you1 therefore1 ,i shall be simply ,m4 ,raymond4 ,at the age of twenty1 ,i was a tolerably good-looking fellow1 and came into possession of a fortune of about ten thousand francs 7#djjl47 a year4 ,being an orphan1 ,i had no one to control me1 and led1 in consequence1 one of the fastest and most dissolute lives in the metropolis4 ,in two years my patrimony was all spent1 and ,i found myself ruined4 ,as always happens in such cases1 my friends turned their backs on me1 and1 as must also always happen1 it was necessary for me to exist2 but how8 ,a serious question1 for one who had never had any other profession than idleness and debauchery4 ,the idea of suicide occurred to me1 but whether it was cowardice1 or submission to fate1 that prevented me1 ,i know not1 but ,i continued to live on4 ,m4 ,raymond then related several piquant anecdotes1 as he called them4 ,as a faithful historian ,i shall transcribe them for the benefit of my readers2 but1 as they will be easier to recount in the third person1 ,i shall in future adopt that method4 ,raymond was thus abandoned1 as he had stated1 by all his friends1 with one exception4 ,this faithful friend1 named ,brissac1 was the same age as himself2 he had been the companion of his follies1 and would now share his misfortunes4 ,they had one purse in common1--that is to say1 they starved together4 ,brissac's active mind was never at a loss2 every day brought forth some new scheme1 for restoring their broken fortunes4 ,i say1 ,raymond1 exclaimed ,brissac1 one morning1 awakening his comrade2 ,i've got an idea6 ,in a few days we shall be rolling in wealth4 ,it only requires a couple of thousand francs 7#hj71 no more2 and this is what we must do to procure that sum4 ,i am acquainted with an old money-lender1 named ,robineau2 a sly1 suspicious old fellow1 and such a rogue1 that an escaped convict would blush before him4 ,he shall be our banker4 ,i don't mind confessing to you that my credit with him is quite gone1 so ,i can ask nothing for myself2 but you might very well beg him to lend you the sum ,i named4 ,no doubt ,i can ask for it1 said ,raymond1 nothing is more easy2 but to obtain it1 is another thing4 ,you know these usurers always require security4 ,i know that4 ,of coarse1 you will offer security to this honest ,robineau4 ,you are joking4 ,no1 on the contrary1 ,i am quite serious4 ,listen to me2 you will offer ,robineau a bill of exchange1 and1 at the same time1 tell him to make all necessary inquiries about you in your native place4 ,as no one there yet knows that you are ruined1 there is no doubt1 that1 after making these inquiries1 and satisfying himself of your respectability1 he will give you what you require4 ,we'll find means of paying him some day or other1 added ,brissac1 by way of quieting his conscience4 ,everything occurred as ,brissac had predicted4 ,in consideration of a bill for two thousand five hundred francs1 at one month's date1 renewable only with the consent of ,pre ,robineau1 he handed over to ,raymond two bank-notes of a thousand francs each4 ,the friends had been so long deprived of anything like pleasure1 that they determined to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content4 ,they took care1 however1 to be economical1 so that the money lasted them for a fortnight1 at the end of which time1 they were worse off than before4 ,they again applied to ,robineau1 but this time he was inflexible4 ,when you have paid me your original debt1 said he1 ,i shall have more confidence in you1 and will lend you a larger sum4 ,the dreaded moment arrived2 the bill was presented1 and of course was not paid4 ,pre ,robineau lost no time in adopting such stringent legal measures1 that1 to escape a prison1 ,raymond saw himself reduced to live the life of a recluse1 never venturing to leave the house4 ,to crown all their miseries1 ,brissac1 who1 by some means more or less honest1 always catered for the two1 found himself in the same predicament as his friend4 ,a bill1 with his signature attached1 in the hands of ,robineau1 was almost due2 but ,brissac was not a man to allow himself to be caught4 ,he resolved to free himself by an act of treacherous perfidy4 ,he went to the money-lender1 and frankly told him he was penniless1 and that therefore it would be useless to imprison him2 but that1 on the other hand1 his friend was quite solvent2 and he offered to get him a bill signed by ,raymond1 for a thousand francs1 in exchange for his own1 promising at the same time to assist him to entrap his invisible debtor4 ,the offer was accepted1 and ,brissac immediately commenced putting his infamous project into execution4 ,he made ,raymond believe that he had found a more accommodating money-lender1 who had promised to let him have a thousand francs on his bill4 ,no sooner does ,brissac get possession of the paper1 than he hastens to ,pre ,robineau1 gives it to him in exchange for his own1 and returns to ,raymond to carry out his scheme4 ,all goes on well1 said he to ,raymond2 but there is a little formality necessary4 ,our new banker declines to give the money to any one but yourself4 ,you had better come with me to satisfy him4 ,yes1 but1 replied ,raymond1 ,i might be recognised1 and taken by the bailiffs1 on my way there4 ,i foresaw this difficulty1 and have a carriage at the door with the blinds drawn2 so we have nothing to fear4 ,unconscious of evil1 ,raymond starts on his way4 ,the two friends congratulate themselves on their good fortune1 and are laughing in their sleeves at the trick they are playing the bailiffs1 when1 suddenly1 at the command of a strange voice1 the carriage stops1 and a man1 in an authoritative tone1 after desiring ,brissac to get out1 takes his place1 and orders the coachman to drive to ,clichy4 ,adieu6 ,raymond1 cried out his perfidious friend as the carriage drove off1 adieu6 ,keep up your courage4 ,adieu6 ,whilst ,voisin ,raymond was telling me this1 ,i observed1 that he could not prevent a nervous clinching of his fists4 ,i may well be enraged at this villain's infamy1 said he1 with his teeth set and his eyes sparkling with rage1 for it is to my stay at ,clichy that ,i owe my entrance into the path of crime4 ,the prisoner was as unhappy as he would naturally be under such circumstances1 but1 on reflection1 he found that his condition was not so bad as he had at first thought2 at all events1 he would1 for some time to come1 be sheltered from want4 ,his companions in misfortune seemed all of them far from despairing4 ,each of them appeared to bear his troubles with patience4 ,they treated one another to dinners and ftes1 at which ladies were present4 ,cards were also permitted1 and imaginary stakes of large amount1 were played for by these insolvents4 ,from his first entrance1 whilst most of his companions held themselves aloof from him1 ,raymond was attracted towards a man named ,andras1 who had shown a compassionate interest in him4 ,this man1 although he was twenty years older1 became his friend and confidant2 and to him ,raymond related his youthful follies1 his difficulties1 and his misfortunes4 ,andras1 on his part1 also made a confidant of ,raymond2 one thing led to another1 and at length he told him some secrets of a compromising nature4 ,he confessed that he had the art of mastering the caprices of fortune1 or1 as ,cardinal ,mazarin said3 ,prendre au jeu ses avantages4 ,andras even offered to initiate ,raymond into these rascally manoeuvres1 and to work with him so as to gull the dupes of ,sainte ,plagie4 ,raymond1 who had long ago ceased to be honest1 did not feel affronted at such advances being made to him2 he accepted the offer of going into partnership1 and worked with zeal to become an adept in his new profession4 ,his progress was rapid1 as in prison there is little to distract the attention1 and one can devote one's whole time to study4 ,the partners at once commenced a crusade against the purses of their fellow-prisoners1 and were so successful1 that1 in less than a year1 they had gained sufficient to recover their liberty4 ,one day they sent for ,pre ,robineau to come to ,clichy1 saying it was for an affair of great importance4 ,the cunning old man knew well enough what his presence there was required for1 so he took with him the necessary papers for the liberation of his debtor4 ,thanks to his zeal1 the needful formalities were soon gone through1 and ,raymond found himself once more on the pavement of ,paris1 which has an especial charm for such of its inhabitants as have not trodden it for a twelvemonth4 ,andras also was set at liberty2 the two associates met1 and agreed never to part again4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,secret ,,gambling-,,houses4 ,greeks1 both as dupers and duped--,andras ,tte d',or--,secret inquiry--,the human ostrich--,the society of philosophers-- ,chaffard the bravo--,exploit of ,tte d',or--,a ,greek thrown out of window--,mystification4 ,when ,raymond entered the prison of ,sainte ,plagie he was an isolated being in ,paris4 ,on his exit it was different2 ,andras had friends who also became the friends of ,raymond1 and in many of the houses in which he was received1 he met with a most cordial welcome4 ,they soon treated him as a brother1 using the friendly thou in addressing him1 and even gave him the soubriquet of ,the ,marquis1 from his fashionable appearance4 ,andras was named ,tte d',or1 or ,golden ,head1 in consequence of his fertile and inventive imagination4 ,raymond was not long in discovering1 that the society he now frequented1 was composed of ,chevaliers d',industrie1 and that the houses where he had been so well received1 were nothing more than gambling-houses1 where those who were imprudent enough to enter1 were soon fleeced of their money4 ,as ,raymond was very expert at tricks of cards1 they gave him1 every now and then1 certain tricks to execute2 and in every instance he performed his rle with as much adroitness as tact4 ,in these houses1 the trial of skill was marvellous1 and it was not uncommon1 to see as many dupers as duped at each table4 ,the tables and play were kept up by a sort of partnership2 that is to say1 every ,greek paid his share towards the general fund4 ,at the end of the evening1 after all the dupes had departed1 the ,greeks placed what they had gained on a table1 and shared it equally4 ,although wolves do not prey upon each other1 thieves not unfrequently do3 that is certain4 ,it often happened1 that1 after a game was over1 at which the dupes had lost a hundred louis 7#hj71 when they came to divide1 there were only sixty forthcoming4 ,every one of the players agreed that there ought to be more1 but no one acknowledged to having taken the missing money4 ,they looked at each other1 and even made a personal search 7for in such company delicacy is needless71 but found nothing4 ,at length they hit on an idea2 they agreed to request ,tte d',or to make a secret investigation1 in order to discover which was the culprit4 ,andras1 flattered at being selected to fill so delicate a post1 put all his zeal and intelligence in requisition1 and soon detected the two delinquents1 as well as the tricks they had employed to cheat the society4 ,it appeared1 that one of these men gave orders to his servant1 to come towards the end of every evening1 to ask his master for a key1 or for some other trifling errand4 ,whilst giving him the key1 he also handed over to him a rouleau of the louis he had gained4 ,if the winnings were considerable1 the servant1 at a sign from his master1 returned with the key1 and in giving it back received a second rouleau4 ,another1 more modest1 contented himself with sticking a few louis under the table with small bits of wax1 collecting them after the division of the spoils was over4 ,a third1 a sort of human ostrich1 swallowed the money1 and afterwards took an emetic to recover it4 ,these double-faced thieves1 once known1 were expelled1 as not being worthy to belong to an association1 which boasted of being proof against all temptation4 ,it occasionally occurred1 that false money was mixed up with the genuine coin4 ,but the author of this fraud could never be discovered2 so no notice was taken of the circumstance1 as the false money was so good an imitation1 that none of the party had any scruples about circulating it amongst their trades-people4 ,andras1 at length1 felt wearied of wasting his talents for the benefit of people1 whom he considered much his inferiors in intellect4 ,he required a larger field for the display of his powers2 and consequently proposed to ,raymond1 to quit ,the ,lynx ,society 7for so was the association named71 to form1 conjointly with a man called ,chaffard1 who was nick-named ,prvt 7or the ,fencing ,master71 a society for the cultivation of ,parisian and provincial dupes4 ,it was called the ,society of ,philosophers1 and the different members were employed as follows3-- ,chaffard used to travel about from time to time1 to discover victims2 he likewise had to put himself in communication with the sharpers of the provinces1 and to negotiate with them for those undertakings1 in which the experience of masters in the art was necessary4 ,if ,chaffard was not as clever in handling cards1 as his comrades1 he was in no way their inferior in cunning and rascality4 ,he possessed one talent in particular1 which1 when occasion required1 was of much avail to them4 ,he was a first-rate bully1 always ready to quarrel with a dupe1 even whilst he was robbing him1 so that many1 to avoid being killed by this miscreant1 would quietly allow themselves to be swindled out of their money4 ,in such cases his usual language was1 ,very well1 sir2 there is only one thing to be done--we must fight4 ,i am at your service1 c41 c4 ,if1 by chance1 any person happened to argue a point1 or expostulate with either of them1 ,chaffard immediately interposed1 espoused his friend's quarrel1 and offered to fight in his stead2 for ,andras and ,raymond were not courageous1 and this was the reason1 that they had deemed it prudent to ally themselves with a bravo4 ,chaffard was1 in truth1 the defender and support of the association4 ,the character of ,raymond1 ,the ,marquis1 was1 on the contrary1 quiet and inoffensive4 ,his manners savoured of the best society4 ,intelligent and adroit1 he willingly undertook to work at balls1 parties1 and other mixed assemblies4 ,by degrees1 he managed to get introduced into the salons of the rich middling classes1 where he exercised his vocation with as much prudence as talent4 ,andras1 or ,golden ,head1 also enjoyed a certain distinction in his line1 which lay in secret gambling houses4 ,there it was that he usually displayed his talents4 ,there1 he not only found easy dupes1 but often1 thanks to the depth of his plots1 and his extreme cleverness1 he managed to take in sharpers themselves4 ,in addition to his other qualities1 ,andras possessed wonderful presence of mind1 of which he was extremely proud2 and in proof of this he had told ,raymond the following circumstance3-- ,at the period when he first began his dangerous career1 and was not yet very expert1 he was playing at one of the secret clubs frequented by all the great gamblers of ,paris4 ,whilst playing1 he was caught in the fact of cheating1 and certain cards which he was trying to introduce into the game of lansquenet1 were seized4 ,they were on the point of delivering him over into the hands of justice1 when one of the players judiciously observed1 that1 as the assembly in which the circumstance occurred was not quite legal1 his denunciation might bring about awkward results2 besides the trouble and delay of producing the necessary proofs4 ,would it not be more simple1 continued this sage counsellor1 to punish the rascal ourselves1 by throwing him out of the window2 and1 should he reach terra firma in safety1 after his arial excursion1 he will never think of appealing against his sentence4 ,all present1 agreed that this would be the wisest plan1 and unanimously decided1 that they should proceed at once to the infliction of the punishment4 ,as soon as ,andras heard this sentence pronounced1 he threw himself on his knees to sue for pardon1 and1 with clasped hands1 implored the pity of his judges1 pointing out to them that the first floor1 on which they were1 was very high from the ground1 owing to there being an entresol between it and the ground-floor4 ,all his appeals1 however1 were in vain4 ,one of the players1 who had lost more than any of his companions1 insisted1 not only that no clemency should be shown him1 but that the rogue should be compelled to return the money which he had stolen4 ,this restitution seemed easy enough1 as the green silk purse1 into which ,andras had put his own money and that of his victims1 was on the table beside him4 ,i will return it1 if you insist on it1 cried ,andras1 in a heart-broken voice1 placing the purse on the table1 but1 oh6 do not kill me4 ,their only reply was to open both the shutters and the window4 ,four of the strongest of the group were selected1 to launch the culprit into space4 ,they approached to seize him1 when ,andras suddenly formed the resolution of leaping out himself1 made a bound forward through the open window1 and1 in true gymnastic style1 came down on his feet in the street below4 ,stunned by his fall1 he staggered at first1 then hobbling away1 he ended by starting off at full speed1 to the astonishment of the spectators in the balcony above1 who laughed loudly at this serio-comic performance4 ,when their hilarity was over1 they bethought themselves of sharing the contents of the purse which contained all the losses they had experienced during the evening4 ,one amongst the party was named to arrange the affair1 but1 as the whole of the money was mixed up in it1 together with that of the robber himself1 it was agreed that it would be better to give it to the poor4 ,wishing to know the amount the purse contained1 they emptied it on the table1 when what was their astonishment at finding nothing in it but counters4 ,andras1 in case of accidents1 always carried a second purse1 filled with false money2 and1 even in the critical position in which he had been placed1 he had sufficient presence of mind to substitute the false purse for the real one4 ,in relating this adventure of former days1 ,andras always concluded with these words3 ,i took good care never to be caught again4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,secret ,,gambling ,,houses--7continued74 ,school of cheating--,travelling ,greeks--,le ,service--,formidable manoeuvre--,imperceptible signs--,the business of the ,comtois --,the coup de retraite--,abundant harvest--,prodigality and debauch--,fortune takes her reprisal4 ,the three associates at first always worked together1 and made some good hits in several of the gambling houses in the metropolis2 but finding at length1 that1 as the number of ,greeks increased1 the number of victims lessened1 they determined on starting a clandestine hell of their own1 at the head of which they placed a very respectable lady of their acquaintance1 named ,madame de ,haut-,castel1 familiarly called la ,pompadour4 ,to ,chaffard was deputed the task of recruiting for dupes1 and drawing them away from other houses4 ,this establishment prospered very well for some time1 but1 one fine day1 they perceived that their affairs were entangled4 ,a good number of habitus1 who had been introduced as dupes1 after having been cleaned out by the masters of the place1 took their revenge on the new recruits1 and fleeced them with infinite skill4 ,andras soon suspected1 that there was no faith to be placed in the ,fencing-,master1 and discovered that he1 in conjunction with la ,pompadour1 whose admirer and devoted slave he had become1 had started a sort of class1 for men who had nearly ruined themselves by gambling2 to whom1 for a handsome douceur1 they taught some of their best tricks in cheating4 ,the two other associates were incensed at this discovery1 but dared not show how exasperated they were1 fearing1 as they did1 the sword of ,chaffard2 so they contented themselves with concealing their disgust1 and paying him off in his own coin4 ,they decided to quit ,paris2 and1 giving as a reason1 their wish to explore the watering and bathing places during the summer season1 they left the establishment in ,paris to the care of the ,fencing-,master1 with full power to do what he pleased1 nay even to dispose of it if he liked4 ,during their journey1 the two rogues invented and arranged1 the most cunning and dexterous tricks4 ,they particularly made a study of a practice well known amongst ,greeks1 and called le ,service1 which is neither more nor less1 than a series of almost imperceptible signals4 ,the following is the way their scheme was carried out4 ,the two confederates bend their steps towards some watering place1 which is known to be frequented by gamblers4 ,raymond1 ,the ,marquis1 has the principal rle allotted to him4 ,he arrives2 goes to the best hotel1 and passes himself off as a rich young heir-presumptive1 or an eldest son4 ,he is careful not to call himself a ,russian prince1 or an ,englishman1 as both these characters have been so often assumed by swindlers1 that that fact alone would raise suspicion4 ,indeed1 the names of ,russian princes and rich ,english families1 are now so well-known to the ,greeks1 that he could not1 without danger1 venture to create new names and titles for either of these countries4 ,at the table d'hte of the hotel1 ,raymond1 by his polite1 easy1 and elegant manners1 wins golden opinions from the persons around him4 ,after dinner1 he joins his new friends1 walks out with them1 and afterwards goes with them to look on at the gambling-tables4 ,if he plays1 it is with great caution and moderation4 ,he generally contents himself with looking on1 that is to say1 he watches the play of his future victims1 and never attempts a coup1 until the arrival of his associate4 ,he is sure not to be long after him1 and selects an hotel as far as possible from that of his accomplice4 ,the two scamps1 when they meet1 feign not to know one another2 they even affect to have no tastes in common4 ,andras walks up to the gambling-table with an air of indifference1 makes one or two bets1 as if he did not care much whether he won or lost1 and refuses to take the cards1 under the pretence that he does not know how to play4 ,but the time arrives1 when these gentlemen commence their real game4 ,they are seated at an cart-table4 ,raymond is playing4 ,at first1 to prevent suspicion1 he loses several games1 and resigns his hand1 which1 however1 when the play is animated and the stakes high1 he takes up again4 ,andras is betting on the opposite side1 but his bets are so trifling1 that it will make little difference to the pair1 even should he lose4 ,this artful accomplice takes up a standing position1 behind his victim1 and opposite his friend4 ,with his hands behind his back1 he seems as if he cared very little about the game4 ,but all the time1 he is paying the greatest attention1 and working his secret telegraph for the benefit of ,raymond4 ,i will endeavour to explain1 in a few words1 this formidable system of trickery4 ,,the ,,secret ,,telegraph4 ,the number of cards required in the game of ,piquet is thirty-two2 now all these thirty-two cards1 may1 by this system1 be pointed out by twelve signals1 that is to say1 eight for the value of the cards1 and four for the suits4 ,at cart1 the number of signals is still less1 as it is only requisite to designate the numbers4 ,but to make these signals1 it is not necessary1 as stated by some authors1 to use any exaggerated signs1 such as to cough1 sneeze1 blow the nose1 or beat a tattoo on the table4 ,they must have a very low estimate of the ,greek1 if they suppose him capable of these palpable evolutions4 ,no2 the modern ,greek would be ashamed of such childish performances4 ,unfortunately for the dupes1 the signals he makes1 can only be seen and recognised by his accomplice4 ,of this1 my readers will be able to judge for themselves1 by the following explanatory table3-- ,if the confederate looks at-- #a4 ,his associate1 he means ,a king4 #b4 ,the cards of his adversary ,a queen4 #c4 ,the stakes ,a knave4 #d4 ,the opposite side ,an ace4 ,and at the same time that he tells the card1 he also tells the colour1 by the following signs3 #a4 ,the mouth slightly open ,a heart4 #b4 ,the mouth shut ,a diamond4 #c4 ,the upper lip slightly projecting over the under ,a club4 #d4 ,the under lip projecting beyond the upper ,a spade4 ,thus1 for instance1 if the ,greek wishes to tell1 that the adversary holds the queen1 the knave1 and the ace of hearts2 he looks successively1 at the cards of his adversary1 at the stakes1 and on the opposite side1 holding his mouth slightly open the whole time4 ,from this it will be seen1 that the secret telegraph may be used for all games alike1 and put in requisition wherever there are spectators4 ,in fact1 nothing is more easy at piquet1 than to indicate by the aid of these signals1 when you are to take in cards1 and when to refuse4 ,i have only thought it necessary1 to give an example of some of the simplest and easiest signs2 but ,i may add1 that some sharpers have a large1 and varied catalogue of signals1 to designate different things1 as circumstances require4 ,this secret telegraph is so nearly imperceptible1 that it is difficult to describe1 and quite impossible to detect4 ,the ,greek1 who is playing1 is careful not to win always4 ,after three or four runs of luck1 he loses and leaves the table1 according to the instructions conveyed by his confederate4 ,this is called ,the ,retreat4 ,to cover any losses incurred by this move1 the accomplice has taken care to double his bets1 and thus to reimburse themselves for their voluntary sacrifice4 ,andras and his friend were1 moreover1 adepts in every kind of sleight of hand trick1 which1 in many instances1 they rendered still more advantageous1 by performing what they termed ,coups en duplicata4 ,thus1 for example1 if they were together at the same bouillotte table1 they pretended not to be acquainted with one another1 and even looked at each other with cool indifference2 thus they could1 whilst playing1 very well manage to cheat1 without exciting suspicion4 ,instead of each cheating to win for himself1 as might be supposed1 they artfully contrived that the one who had the deal1 and held the cards1 should have bad cards and lose1 whilst his confederate had all the luck1 and won4 ,sometimes1 whilst giving all four kings to his accomplice1 the other would also manage1 to hand over the four queens to one of their victims1 so as to raise his hopes1 and induce him to double his stakes4 ,the villany of these rogues1 therefore1 could not be suspected1 as the dealer never was the winner4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was at ,boulogne-sur-,mer1 that ,andras and ,raymond fixed themselves1 to carry on their criminal performances4 ,the people there1 were rich and prosperous1 and the harvest was abundant2 though it was rather lessened by their gains being shared with ,achille ,chauvignac1 the swindler par excellence of the place1 who pointed out to them where the best game lay4 ,i must here pause to say a few words4 ,hearing so much said of the enormous profits gained by swindlers1 the reader will1 naturally enough1 conceive1 that in the end1 all ,greeks must of necessity become millionaires and capitalists4 ,far from it2 notwithstanding their great profits1 this reprobate class never prospers2 on an average1 out of every hundred ,greeks1 #iia die in want4 ,the explanation is easy4 ,the recruits of modern ,greece1 without exception1 are men whose debauchery and prodigality have brought them to ruin4 ,nothing would be more difficult1 than to make a sharper thrifty and economical4 ,they are all dissolute1 prodigal1 and ostentatious1 according to their means4 ,these gentlemen1 far from proportioning their expenses to their incomes1 think not of the future1 and live in extravagant luxury4 ,they have horses1 carriages1 mistresses1 c41 c41 and each one endeavours to outdo all his acquaintance in his expenditure4 ,it is hardly credible1 but nevertheless true1 that a sharper sometimes loses money at play4 ,these men1 blass with the successes which they themselves have created1 sometimes sigh for the excitement caused by real play4 ,to obtain it1 they rush to the roulette or rouge-et-noir table4 ,in these two games the ,greek finds retributive justice1 and fortune takes a sure revenge for many former deeds of wrong4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,doctor ,,duped4 ,the false capitalist--,the rogue is bled--,more confederates arrive --,a good hand--,the fleecing--,the doctor bled4 ,after quitting ,boulogne1 our two heroes intended to have gone into the ,south of ,france1 but their plans were changed by a proposal made to them by ,chauvignac4 ,there was a physician1 living at ,st4 ,omer1 who had an irresistible love of gambling1 and the proposal made by ,chauvignac was1 that they should relieve him of some thousands of francs4 ,chauvignac was to give them all the information necessary1 and for this1 he asked a third of the profits2 only1 as he was the intimate friend of the doctor1 it was agreed that he must not appear in the affair4 ,the two performers in this drama1 were not long in making their arrangements4 ,a few days afterwards1 they arrived at the ,htel d',angleterre1 the best in the place4 ,andras passed himself off for a rich ,parisian capitalist1 who1 charmed by the beauty of the place1 and the simple manners of the country1 wished to purchase an estate in the neighbourhood4 ,he was accompanied by a friend1 who had come to give him his opinion and advice in this affair4 ,they made several excursions1 visited all the places that were for sale1 but ended by finding nothing on a scale grand enough to suit the would-be proprietor4 ,at the termination of their searches1 the millionaire announced that he was going to return to the capital1 and was on the point of departing1 when he was suddenly taken very ill4 ,according to his wishes1 the best medical man in the place1 the friend of ,chauvignac1 was sent for4 ,on his arrival1 the son of ,esculapius began asking various questions1 to find out what was the nature of his patient's malady4 ,ah6 ,sir1 replied ,andras in a mournful voice1 ,i cannot tell you what has caused this illness1 which compels me to keep my bed2 all ,i know is1 that ,i suffer horribly in my head4 ,i have unhappily every reason to fear1 from the symptoms1 a return of a brain fever1 of which ,i have already had several attacks4 ,calm yourself1 said the doctor1 we will try and ward off the evil1 this time1 by bleeding you copiously4 ,do so1 if you please1 responded the rascal1 ,i place myself in your hands4 ,andras was accordingly bled1 and soon afterwards declared he already felt better4 ,i will come again1 and see you to-morrow1 said the doctor1 on taking leave of the sham invalid4 ,oh6 pray come back again to-day1 for ,i feel ,i require incessant watching and care4 ,the doctor promised1 and returned in fact some hours later4 ,he felt the pulse of the patient1 and found it still so high1 that he recommended a severe regimen1 and the most absolute quiet and repose4 ,no sooner was the doctor gone1 than ,andras proceeded to take off a ligature1 which he had bound round his arm to increase the beating of his pulse1 and1 whilst waiting for the return of his victim1 made a hearty meal4 ,several days passed in this manner1 during which1 ,raymond never quitted the bedside of his friend2 he was as devoted as a ,sister of ,charity4 ,it was thought advisable under such serious circumstances1 to send for two other members of the family1 who were introduced to the doctor as nephews of the sick man1 but who were1 in reality1 nothing more nor less than two sharpers1 who were brought from ,paris to suit the purposes of the two schemers1 and were paid ten francs a day for their services4 ,their business was1 to second and assist the manoeuvres of their master and chief4 ,the severity of the attack was overcome1 and ,andras appeared to be approaching convalescence4 ,to amuse the invalid1 his two soi-disant nephews1 and his friend1 used to play at cards1 at a table placed close beside his bed4 ,the game was animated1 and the gold coins were rolling about on the floor4 ,they were so rich in this family6 ,i say1 doctor1 exclaimed ,andras one evening1 ,i think a game of cards would do me good1 and go far to restore me4 ,you have a lucky face2 will you do me the kindness to hold a hand of cards at cart for me8 ,i stake ten napoleons4 ,the doctor1 to oblige his patient1 as well as to enjoy his favourite amusement1 hastened to comply4 ,he was most fortunate in the cards he held2 he won six consecutive times1 and placed sixty napoleons in the hands of his patient4 ,i am most happy1 added he1 in having so successfully performed the mission you confided to me1 but whether it is your good luck1 or mine1 that has been the cause of it1 ,i cannot tell4 ,good ,heavens6 ,dear doctor1 exclaimed ,andras1 the only way to be certain of this1 is to play for yourself2 ,i will bet on you1 as ,i believe you to be the lucky man4 ,the doctor did not require to be asked twice2 he played1 and again had luck beyond belief4 ,in fact1 in a short time he had won a hundred napoleons 7#hj74 ,you certainly bring me luck1 said ,andras to his partner2 but ,i have had enough for this evening2 ,i am tired and want repose4 ,we hope that these gentlemen will forgive us for winning and walking off with their money4 ,to-morrow1 if you like1 we will play again1 and1 with your aid1 ,i hope we shall clear out my two nephews1 which will1 perhaps1 cure them for their passion for play4 ,if you succeed1 doctor1 the cure will be one of the best you have ever made4 ,it was not philanthropy1 but his immense luck1 and love of gambling1 which made the doctor keep his appointment4 ,he came the next evening at the usual hour1 and found the nephews already there4 ,to fulfil his duties as physician1 he felt the pulse of his patient1 and found him so much better1 that without more ado1 he pronounced himself ready to begin their game4 ,the table was placed1 as on the previous evening1 close to the bedside of the patient1 to enable him to join in the amusement4 ,in order to plunder the poor doctor more speedily1 they allowed him at first to gain a few napoleons4 ,this voluntary loss is in the language of sharpers called the bait1 and allows them to double their stakes without causing suspicion1 enabling them to gain their ends more easily and quickly4 ,as soon as the stakes rose1 and the play was for nothing less than bank-notes1 the luck immediately turned4 ,the doctor1 hitherto so lucky1 suddenly found himself losing everything4 ,at the end of the evening1 he was a loser to the extent of thirty thousand francs 7#abjjl474 ,all along it is easy to perceive1 there had been but one victim4 ,the losses of ,andras had been but imaginary1 and were only assumed1 to prevent suspicion on the part of his victim1 and would of course be returned to him by his accomplices4 ,having bled the doctor as far as they could venture to do 7for he was not very wealthy71 and prudence also preventing their proceeding further1 in case the police might put a finish to the scheme1 they thought it advisable to decamp4 ,the following morning1 therefore1 the invalid felt himself sufficiently reinstated in health to prosecute his long delayed journey1 so1 paying the doctor for his attendance1 he quitted the town as quickly as possible4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,paste ,,ring4 ,the amateur of precious stones--,what a beautiful diamond6--,a sovereign cure--,ah6 if ,i were a rogue--,a false paste ring6-- ,the game is played--,the tell-tale stamp investigation--,the wanderer by night--,the mysterious tripot--,the sharper caught in a trap--,recriminations--,the message--,the false commissary of police--,the ,rue de ,jerusalem--,unexpected dnoement4 ,it was some time after this1 that our two heroes arrived at ,lyons1 and lost no time in making inquiries regarding the various clubs in that town1 and the sort of people who were members of them4 ,amongst others1 one club was particularly mentioned1 in which most of the members were gamblers4 ,they heard that a gentleman named ,broli belonged to it1 who was a great amateur in precious stones4 ,broli had a mania for making clever bargains1 as he called them1 which means1 that he often obtained a fine stone cheap1 from those who were not such great connoisseurs as himself4 ,such transactions would be called cheating1 but that in these days1 it is quite allowable1 if not honest1 for buyers and sellers to try to take each other in4 ,do we not daily hear a man boast of having1 by some deceit1 obtained an article from a merchant at cost price1 whilst1 on the other hand1 the vendor rubs his hands at having got rid of a loup de magasin1 as a faulty article is called4 ,in some commercial houses1 it is stated1 that a premium is paid to the clerk1 who disposes of the rococo articles to some credulous customer4 ,be that as it may1 ,broli's mania for precious stones1 put it into the head of ,andras to play him a clever trick4 ,he requested ,raymond to get himself introduced1 and work his way into the club1 of which ,broli was a member1 whilst he 7,andras7 went to ,paris1 to arrange the preliminaries of an affair1 of which he at present refused to mention the details1 until all was in readiness for his great coup4 ,a fortnight afterwards1 thanks to the secret influence of ,raymond1 ,andras1 who had returned from ,paris1 was proposed and elected by the club1 of which his comrade was already a member4 ,the two ,greeks were not supposed to know one another1 so each was able to proceed with his work unsuspected4 ,raymond ransacked the pockets of some rich proprietors1 whilst his comrade contented himself1 every evening1 with playing a few innocent games at cart with ,broli1 whose acquaintance he had made4 ,the very first day1 the amateur observed a magnificent ring on the finger of ,andras4 ,what a splendid diamond you have there1 said ,broli1 with an accent of envy4 ,yes1 it is1 replied ,andras1 carelessly1 continuing his play4 ,diamonds are trumps4 ,i cut1 and my turn-up card is worth nothing2 you have the trick4 ,broli1 meanwhile1 never took his eyes off the precious stone1 the dazzling lustre of which seemed to fascinate him4 ,each day brought forth fresh expressions of admiration for the stone1 to all of which1 his opponent apparently remained insensible4 ,one evening1 ,broli was determined to force a reply of some kind or other from ,andras4 ,what did you pay for that stone8 said he4 ,are you serious in asking that question1 do you really wish to know8 ,quite serious4 ,then ,i must explain1 that1 if ,i have not before replied to your different exclamations of admiration1 it was because ,i thought you were joking4 ,now that ,i know the contrary1 ,i feel bound to tell you1 that that superb diamond1 which has dazzled you so much1 is only paste4 ,how do you mean--paste8 said ,broli1 with an air of pique4 ,it is you that are joking4 ,no2 ,i assure you ,i am in earnest4 ,oh6 nonsense2 let me see it closer4 ,saying these words1 ,broli took up the hand of ,andras1 fixed his eyes on the ring1 and kept turning it about to make it glitter4 ,you may tell others that it is false1 but there is no use in telling me so4 ,i can assure you that your stone is a real diamond4 ,very well2 ,i am glad to hear it1 rejoined ,andras1 feigning the greatest indifference4 ,let me see1 it is your turn to play4 ,the two players continued their game1 but ,broli appeared distrait1 and kept constantly looking at the ring4 ,at length he could no longer restrain himself4 ,so certain am ,i1 exclaimed he1 that the stone is of the first water1 that ,i shall be happy to purchase it1 if you will let me4 ,i will not sell it to you1 replied ,andras4 ,why not8 ,because1 in the first place1 ,i do not want to rob you of your money2 and in the second1 it is a family relic1 which ,i do not wish to part with4 ,one of my uncles left it to me1 and he had it from his father4 ,it has been in our family for a hundred years1 and is called the paste ring4 ,i only wear it1 because it is considered a charm against headaches1 to which ,i am very subject4 ,but if ,i offered you a good price8 persisted ,broli4 ,if you offered me four times its value1 ,i would not part with it4 ,suppose ,i offered you1 not four times1 but two or three hundred times1 the value you set on the stone8 ,andras cut short all further colloquy by continuing the game4 ,diamonds1 said he1 and ,i have what they call 'la fourchette4' ,i mark one4 ,as soon as the game was ended1 ,broli1 who was very tenacious of his reputation as a connoisseur in precious stones1 returned to the charge4 ,i am so sure of what ,i aver1 continued he1 that ,i shall always be ready to bargain for your ring1 whenever you wish to part with it4 ,ah6 if ,i were a rogue1 replied ,tte d',or1 ,i should part with my paste ring to you1 to prove that you must not always be guided by your own judgment4 ,stay1 said ,broli1 will you lend me your ring until to-morrow4 ,to make quite sure1 ,i will just show it to a jeweller of my acquaintance4 ,andras acceded to his request with a show of indifference1 and they separated4 ,broli went off at once to his friend1 to show him the jewel1 and ask him the value of it4 ,the jeweller1 after examining it for some time attentively1 confirmed ,broli's opinion4 ,this stone is of a most beautiful water1 said he1 and ,i should consider it cheap if ,i got it for twelve thousand francs 7#dhjl474 ,the following day1 ,broli advanced to ,andras with an air of triumph4 ,my dear sir1 said he1 ,i can now state with positive certainty1 that your family has been in error for the last hundred years about the value of this ring4 ,what you call paste1 is a real diamond4 ,i will give you six thousand francs for it4 ,to this offer ,andras made no reply4 ,they sat down to play1 but during the game1 the indefatigable ,broli incessantly returned to the charge1 offering each time a higher price for the ring1 to tempt his adversary1 and finally made him an offer of nine thousand francs4 ,to all of which ,andras remained silent1 contenting himself by shaking his head each time in token of negative4 ,it was late1 and the party was on the point of breaking up1 when ,broli suddenly made up his mind4 ,stop1 he exclaimed1 at the same time placing ten bank-notes1 of a thousand francs each1 on the table4 ,this is my last offer4 ,say yes1 and the bargain is struck4 ,you are resolved to cheat yourself8 ,yes1 ,i am1 replied the amateur1 in a bantering tone1 looking again intently on the ring1 which he had kept on his finger throughout the evening4 ,well1 if you insist on it1 you shall have it2 only allow me to take out from a secret recess the lock of hair of my worthy uncle1 who has been the means of making me get ten thousand francs4 ,i certainly did not anticipate this great good luck4 ,see what it is to be a connoisseur4 ,here2 here is your ring4 ,thanks4 ,early the following day1 ,broli again went to his friend the jeweller4 ,i've got that splendid diamond1 said he1 addressing him4 ,look here2 see how beautiful it is6 ,i am sure1 that whenever ,i wish to part with it1 ,i shall always get more than what you offered me4 ,do you think so8 responded the jeweller1 taking up the ring1 to look more closely at it4 ,stay2 what's this8 he exclaimed4 ,what's this you have brought to show me8 ,this a diamond6 why1 it is nothing but paste6 ,the trick was played1 and had succeeded4 ,under pretence of taking out his uncle's hair1 ,andras had cleverly changed the diamond ring1 for a paste one precisely similar1 which he had had made for the express purpose4 ,on the following day1 the ingenious and clever thief was far away1 out of reach of ,broli and all chance of redress4 99 99 99 99 99 ,those who are unacquainted with the perseverance and energy of ,broli1 observed ,raymond1 in relating this anecdote to me1 may fancy that the diamond ring is lost to him for ever4 ,not so4 ,the amateur1 after having been so cruelly deceived1 took an oath that he would discover1 and be revenged on1 his enemy4 ,on examining the false ring1 ,broli first made sure that it bore the goldsmith's mark1 proving it to be of pure gold4 ,this was not much consolation1 still1 it led him to suppose1 that the real diamond ring must also1 of course1 bear the same stamp4 ,if1 muttered ,broli to himself1 the two rings have passed through the comptroller's hands1 the stones are so large1 and of such value1 that it is next to impossible he did not remark them4 ,this simple reflection1 was the first step towards the discovery of the real gem4 ,furnished with a letter of introduction from his friend1 the jeweller1 ,broli proceeds to ,paris1 goes straight to the mint1 and presents the ring to the comptroller1 who perfectly remembers the two rings in question1 and gives the address of the jeweller who manufactured them4 ,from the latter ,broli learns1 that his customer1 ,andras1 lives at ,no4 #ac1 ,rue ,cadet4 ,any one else would have handed ,andras over to the police2 but caring much more to obtain possession of his ring1 than to satisfy the ends of justice1 ,broli thinks it more prudent to take the affair into his own hands1 and manage it in his own way4 ,he goes to the concierge1 in the ,rue ,cadet1 and slipping a napoleon into his hand1 begins by relating to him a romantic tale1 well calculated to impose on the man1 and make him tell all he wished to know4 ,broli says1 that a daughter of a friend of his1 residing in the country1 has been asked in marriage by his tenant1 ,m4 ,andras1 and that he has come to find out all he can about him1 believing that he could not go to a better source than his friend the concierge4 ,the man1 delighted at the affable manners of his interlocutor1 as well as flattered at the confidence reposed in him1 reveals1 under the seal of secresy1 that ,andras has a mistress living with him1 and that he often remains from home all night4 ,this is enough for ,broli2 he takes leave of his obliging informant1 and1 that very evening1 places himself as a spy at the gate of his deceiver4 ,at ten o'clock at night1 ,andras comes out1 and directs his steps towards an isolated house1 at the end of the ,rue ,pigale4 ,broli follows him1 and sees him1 and about twenty other men1 go into the same house4 ,hidden in a doorway close by1 ,broli observes all that goes on without being himself seen4 ,he remarks1 that every time the bell of the gate is rung1 the door is opened by a servant with a light in his hand1 who makes a close inspection of the person presenting himself1 before he admits him4 ,the mystery attending the meeting1 the absence of a concierge1 c41 all lead ,broli to conclude1 that this must be one of the secret gambling houses2 and what confirms him still more in this opinion1 is1 that though there are four windows in each story1 in the front of the house1 not one of them is illuminated4 ,any one would have supposed it to be uninhabited4 ,wishing to have a yet more convincing proof of the correctness of his surmises1 he determines to wait until the meeting is over1 and employs himself1 whilst waiting1 in concocting his plan of attack4 ,about four o'clock in the morning1 the door again opens1 and a man1 after looking up and down the street in a mysterious manner1 issues out4 ,broli suddenly confronts him4 ,sir1 said he1 quickly1 so as to give him no time for reflection1 is everybody gone out of this house8 ,why8 asks the unknown4 ,because the police are close by1 and will soon surround it4 ,i came to warn one of my friends1 who was to have spent the night here4 ,thanks for the information1 replies the unknown1 proceeding on his way4 ,if1 thought ,broli1 this man be only one of the dupes1 he would have nothing to fear1 as he has quitted the gambling house2 but his anxiety to be off1 proves that he fears the vigilance of the police1 so ,i feel sure he must be one of the gang4 ,full of this idea1 ,broli follows at a little distance1 and when he sees him slacken his pace1 he goes up to him1 and thus addresses him3-- ,i beg your pardon for having made you race in this manner1 by giving you false information1 but ,i wished to find out if you were one of us1 and ,i have succeeded in so doing4 ,will you explain yourself1 sir1 if you please1 for ,i do not understand what you mean4 ,i can easily make you comprehend me1 by simply stating that ,i am the colleague of ,andras4 ,what has that got to do with it8 ,i wish to make a proposition to you4 ,would you like to gain two thousand francs without any trouble84 ,explain yourself4 ,since you say you know ,andras---- ,i beg your pardon1 ,i did not say that4 ,since you know him1 ,i must inform you1 that that scamp has played me a most infamous trick4 ,he is quite capable of so doing1 added the unknown1 in a low voice4 ,i wish to be revenged1 and that is why ,i ask you to assist me4 ,what is there for me to do8 ,scarcely anything4 ,it is only necessary for you to bring ,andras to a house1 which ,i shall point out to you1 under pretext of introducing him into a club1 where he will find several victims to dupe4 ,i'll arrange all the rest4 ,i am ready1 replied the unknown4 ,when and where is it to be8 ,to-morrow1 at ,no4 #bb1 ,rue ,meslay1 on the second floor4 ,the following morning1 the new associate of ,broli called on ,andras1 to make the perfidious proposition to him4 ,never doubting his comrade1 ,andras accepted the proposal1 thinking to make an excellent coup1 the more so1 as things were going on rather badly in the ,rue ,pigale4 ,that very evening1 the two ,greeks proceeded to the house indicated by ,broli1 in the ,rue ,meslay4 ,a servant in livery1 having admitted them1 opened the doors of a drawing-room brilliantly illuminated4 ,andras entered first1 without apprehension1 but he had no sooner done so1 than his companion1 following the instructions he had received from ,broli1 turned round suddenly1 and locked the door4 ,at the same moment1 ,broli1 and two athletic-looking men1 entered from a door on the opposite side of the room4 ,you1 doubtless1 remember me1 exclaimed ,broli1 in an austere and determined voice4 ,you must know what it is that brings me here4 ,what do you mean1 sir1 cried ,andras1 feigning the greatest indignation4 ,first of all1 answer me4 ,what sort of ambush is this1 into which you have entrapped me8 ,am ,i in the midst of thieves1 or assassins8 ,do not speak so loud1 sir1 replied ,broli1 or you may have reason to regret it4 ,the ambush of which you complain is only a favour to you--a step towards an amicable settlement of the business4 ,what do you mean by talking to me about favours8 replied ,andras1 and what do you complain of8 ,you offered me ten thousand francs for a ring1 and ,i accepted your offer4 ,did ,i not give you the ring8 ,yes1 you did1 but you omit to mention1 that the stone you gave me was a false one4 ,ah6 ,mon ,dieu6 coolly replied ,andras4 ,i am far from denying it4 ,i repeated that to you so often1 that you must recollect it4 ,besides1 did you not1 when paying me the ten thousand francs1 say you knew the stone was false1 but that you very much wished to possess it8 ,do not let us play upon words1 sir1 but let us come to the point4 ,you are going to give me the ring you cheated me out of4 ,to avoid all discussion on the subject1 ,i tell you1 once for all1 that ,i have never had any other ring in my possession1 than the one ,i delivered to you4 ,if that be the case1 you will not mind copying this1 and sending it to your mistress8 ,let me see what it's about1 said ,andras1 taking the paper from ,broli4 ,he read as follows3-- ,,my ,,dearest1--,i hope to make some money in the house from which ,i pen these lines1 but ,i require my diamond ring for the affair4 ,bring it to me yourself1 to the address ,i enclose1 and do not entrust it to any one else4 ,the bearer of this note will give you my keys4 ,at eleven o'clock precisely1 ,i shall be at the door awaiting you4 ,take a carriage1 so as to be punctual4 ,,andr,,as4 #bb1 ,rue ,meslay4 ,nothing will induce me to write that1 exclaimed ,andras4 ,i will not solicit you long1 said ,broli4 ,will you do it1 ,yes or ,no8 ,no1 a thousand times1 no6 ,baptiste1 go and bring the commissary of police1 said ,broli1 addressing the man on his right4 ,go at once1 and do not return without him4 ,a moment1 supplicated ,andras1 making a sign to the commissionnaire to stop4 ,let us see if we cannot arrange this business2 what will you take to end the affair8 ,i will have no arrangements2 ,i require nothing1 but that you should copy and sign this letter4 ,seeing there was nothing for it but to agree to ,broli's proposal1 ,andras began to think1 how he could manage to decamp with the ring1 as soon as he received it from the hands of his mistress4 ,so1 seating himself at the table1 on which all the implements for writing had been previously prepared1 and under the eye of ,broli1 he copied the missive word for word4 ,two hours afterwards1 ,andras was set at liberty1 and ,broli had obtained possession of the celebrated ring4 ,this is how it was managed3 ,the chre amie of ,andras1 on receiving his note1 hastened in a carriage to the house he had indicated1 taking the ring with her2 but no sooner did the carriage stop at the door of ,no4 #bb1 ,rue ,meslay1 than a commissary of police1 with his badge of office 7the scarf71 and accompanied by a sergent-de-ville1 opened the door of the carriage and got in1 directing the coachman to go to the prefecture of police in the ,rue de ,jerusalem4 ,on their way thither1 the commissary explained to the fair messenger1 that1 having been ordered by the police to keep a watch on ,no4 #bb1 ,rue ,meslay1 he stopped a man coming out of that house1 who was the bearer of a letter1 and that after reading the contents of it1 he had substituted one of the police for the original messenger4 ,the law has seized all the property which was in that house1 and ,i am under the painful necessity1 madam1 continued he1 of arresting you1 as being a party concerned in a serious robbery4 ,allow me to take charge of this article1 which otherwise you might make away with4 ,thus saying1 the officer drew the diamond ring from the finger of the lady1 though not without some resistance on her part4 ,the clock of the ,palais de ,justice was striking midnight1 as the carriage drove up to the gate4 ,the night was pitch dark4 ,we must ring up the concierge to open the gate1 observed the commissary to the sergent-de-ville2 at the same time they both got out1 and shut the door of the carriage with assiduous care4 ,two minutes had scarcely elapsed1 when a loud voice exclaimed1 ,you cannot remain opposite this gate1 coachman4 ,i know that1 replied that individual1 but ,i am waiting for orders4 ,you have not told me where to drive to1 ,ma'am1 added he1 putting down one of the glasses4 ,where am ,i to drive you to8 ,where are you to drive me8 ,to the ,rue ,cadet1 where you took me up1 said the fair occupant of the carriage1 in a tremulous voice4 ,go along1 my hearties1 exclaimed the ,jehu1 whipping up his horses1 this is my last fare to-night4 ,if my readers have not already guessed as much1 ,i will mention for their edification1 that the commissary of police and his assistant1 were neither more nor less than two of ,broli's friends2 and that1 instead of ringing up the concierge1 as they had stated1 favoured by the darkness of the night1 they made off1 as quickly as they could1 carrying the precious ring1 which they soon afterwards delivered into the hands of ,broli4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,an ,,infamous ,,snare4 ,a young fool--,envy and covetousness--,aphorisms--,insinuations --,confidences--,influencing the game--,honest men are sometimes rogues--,mushrooms and cheating--,the ,greek moralist--,example of cheating--,initiation--,maxims and manipulations--,temptation --,the ,belgian capitalist--,the cartes biseautes--,easily won --,an insolvent gambler--,comedy--,the ,greek in despair--,an infamous scene--,dishonour--,ruin--,the faithless trustee-- ,separation of the philosophers--,a virtuous ,greek--,golden hopes --,a beard again--,a demi-millionaire4 ,the ,society of ,philosophers generally made ,calais the centre of their operations1 for the reason that they were often summoned by ,achille ,chauvignac1 who1 as my readers may remember1 had been the originator of the plot at ,st4 ,omer4 ,chauvignac was especially indefatigable in such affairs1 as1 without running the slightest risk1 he always shared largely in the profits of these transactions4 ,so unprincipled was he1 that he continually selected his most intimate friends for his victims4 ,each gambler was classed as to his means1 and also1 as to whether he was likely to allow himself to be plucked without remonstrance4 ,thus1 ,m4 ,b-- was valued at three thousand francs2 ,m4 ,p-- at six thousand2 ,m4 ,c-- was not worth much1 being a bad player2 but1 at any rate1 they put him down at a thousand francs4 ,the one who was considered the best1 that is1 the richest dupe1 was ,m4 ,f--1 who was estimated at from fifteen to twenty thousand francs4 ,andras and ,raymond had gone the round of all the clubs of ,calais and ,boulogne1 but they dared not venture to ,st4 ,omer1 for fear of being recognised4 ,they sent1 in their place1 however1 two clever sharpers1 who originally came from ,venice1 which city was formerly supposed to be the cradle of roguery4 ,the ,society of ,philosophers would not certainly have placed the implicit confidence they did1 in these two delegates1 had it not been1 that they were under the immediate surveillance of ,chauvignac1 who not only looked after them himself1 but arranged a system of espionnage between the two ,greeks1 so that each of them was overlooked by his companion4 ,his plan was1 to address one of them privately thus3 ,do you know1 ,i have not much confidence in your friend2 ,i much fear he will impose on our society2 just take a note of his winnings1 and watch him4 ,you shall not go unrewarded for this service4 ,he then went and said precisely the same thing to the other1 so that without being aware of it1 each ,greek was watched by his comrade4 ,the harvest reaped by the society at ,st4 ,omer1 was very productive1 but the largest share went into the pocket of ,chauvignac1 who1 as may be conceived1 was not very particular in the just division of the money entrusted to him4 ,whether it was in consequence of this affair1 or from some trifling indiscretion on the part of the philosophers1 the credit of ,chauvignac seemed on the decline4 ,every one was astonished to see the money he spent1--a man who had literally nothing--and then his constant trips to ,paris1 without any obvious reason1 and his intimacy with men whose characters were not unsullied--all these circumstances combined to make honest men rather shun his society4 ,chauvignac was as clever as he was unprincipled2 for the latter quality does not prevent a man from possessing talent2 the best proof of which is1 that a rogue is seldom a fool4 ,chauvignac was sharp enough1 soon to discover the discredit into which he had fallen1 and knowing how prejudicial it would prove to his interests1 he immediately set about thinking1 how he could reestablish himself in the good graces of society4 ,amongst the young fools who shared with him a life of dissipation1 he had formed a small club1 at the head of which was a young man named ,olivier de ,x----1 who was noted for his elegance and his eccentricities4 ,the family of this wild young fellow1 was one of the oldest and most respectable in the country1 and much looked-up to4 ,chauvignac fixed on this young heir1 as a means of regaining his place in the good opinion of his fellow-citizens4 ,he affected to be on terms of the greatest intimacy with him1 when he met him in public places1 and addressed him in a loud tone of voice1 in the most familiar manner4 ,but1 unfortunately1 this apparent intimacy with ,olivier1 had just the contrary result to what ,chauvignac had anticipated3 the one lost position1 but the other did not gain it4 ,olivier began to be shunned1 but ,chauvignac fared no better4 ,the latter1 however1 as soon as he perceived this1 and he was not long in so doing1 bethought himself of making ,olivier's credit subservient to his views in another way4 ,the parents of ,olivier were not wealthy1 and could do nothing for their son1 so his excessive extravagance had brought him into difficulties and debt4 ,he regarded ,chauvignac with envy and admiration2 he saw him living like a prince1 without any creditors to annoy him4 ,how is it1 said he to ,chauvignac one day1 that you1 who have no fortune1 can gratify all your tastes and fancies1 whilst ,i1 who have some small means1 am obliged to be economical1 besides which1 ,i am in debt8 ,this query was precisely what ,chauvignac had been waiting for4 ,he remained1 for some moments1 without answering his questioner1 intending to give more effect to his words2 then1 with a diabolical smile1 he thus addressed him3 ,would you like to be as happy as ,i am8 ,can you ask me8 ,all depends on yourself1 to be even better off than ,i am4 ,what must ,i do8 eagerly demanded ,olivier4 ,chauvignac thought his young neophyte sufficiently prepared1 to receive what he had to impart4 ,listen to me1 whispered he1 in a mysterious voice4 ,you have doubtless heard the following proverb1 old as the world itself3 ,men are divided into two classes1 ,dupers and ,dupes4 ,come1 speak frankly1 to which of these categories would you like to belong8 ,why you see1 you are so abrupt in your question4 ,you come on one so suddenly2 it requires reflection4 ,agreed1 observed this second ,mephistophiles1 we will make the reflections together1 and will study the subject1 in some individuals of that great and motley crowd1 which is termed 'society4' ,the two friends were1 at that moment1 standing at the door of one of the largest and best cafs in the town4 ,it was ,sunday2 the weather was fine1 and crowds of pedestrians were lounging up and down before them4 ,look1 said ,chauvignac1 do you see that thin miserable man1 with his head bowed down1 and his clothes hanging in rags8 ,he is an unfortunate fellow1 who has worked all his life to pay off the debts left by his father4 ,he is old3 he has hardly bread to put in his mouth4 ,you will observe no one takes any notice of him4 ,now1 look at that stout man1 so puffed up with pride and insolence2 how pleased he seems with himself1 as they say1 like a peacock spreading his tail4 ,he has been a merchant1 and has made his money by fraud and cheating4 ,he afterwards set up as a banker1 and lent money at an usurious interest4 ,he is now a millionnaire4 ,see--he bows with a patronising air to all whom he meets4 ,the first is a dupe1 the second a duper4 ,or to speak more plainly1 added ,olivier1 the first is an honest man1 the second a rogue4 ,be it so--,i grant you that1 continued the tempter1 but now ,i will give you another example1 of which you will not be able to make the same observation4 ,you1 better than any one else1 ought to know an intelligent1 generous-hearted1 and ambitious young man1 who1 for want of sufficient means1 leads a life of privation and troubles1 is overwhelmed with debt1 and1 if he thinks of playing to retrieve his fortunes1 he is sure to lose4 ,near to him1 at this moment1 is one of his friends1 who1 without fixed income or expectations1 possesses1 nevertheless1 a never ending fortune4 ,this man always wins at play1 and has not a caprice ungratified4 ,the former of these is the dupe1 the latter ---- is ---- ,here ,chauvignac paused1 to allow ,olivier to finish the phrase4 ,what is it you mean8 asked he1 beginning to comprehend the purport of the conversation4 ,what ,i mean1 is this1 replied ,chauvignac with a sneer--,to prove to you1 that the lucky gamester1 whose good fortune you envy1 belongs to a society of philosophers1 and that these philosophers have certain and easy methods1 of turning luck in their own favour4 ,but1 observed ,olivier1 his sense of right struggling for mastery in his mind4 ,to cheat at play is an act of dishonesty4 ,on this point1 my dear sir1 we do not agree2 you are in error1 and ,i will prove it to you4 ,first of all1 tell me what you call cheating at play8 ,i call winning by underhand tricks1 cheating4 ,very well2 if that be the case1 ,i will soon show you that the most honest man will not scruple to cheat4 ,for instance1 do we not daily see men of the strictest probity1 seek to turn luck in their favour by various means4 ,one1 in placing himself at the table1 will sit opposite the hinges1 because he believes it to be a lucky spot4 ,again1 if he wins1 he will not count his money1 fearing to turn his luck4 ,another believes in the influence of a certain coin1 which he mixes with the rest of his money--but which he will never part with4 ,others1 again1 wear amulets1 made of the dried heart of a black hen1 the head of a beetle1 or a bit of the cord with which a malefactor has been hung4,g ,just tell me what is the object of these mysterious influences1 if it be not1 as they say in the criminal courts1 gagner subrepticement le bien d'autrui en faisant tourner son profit les bnfices d'une partie4 ,in such cases1 if the act is not committed1 the intention is the same1 and ought to be considered as if accomplished4 ,between the above-mentioned actions and ours1 the only difference is1 that one depends on the mind1 the other on the fingers4 ,the moral result is the same4 ,of this you may be sure1 that if these honest folks do not go further1 it is because they dare not4 ,i will even say more1 continued ,chauvignac1 carried away by his own sophistry4 ,take1 for instance1 one of these heroes of probity1 and show him a method of always winning1 with a certainty of never being detected1 and see if he will not follow it4 ,believe me1 ,i know a great deal more than ,i care to tell4 ,all that1 said ,olivier1 proves1 at most1 that all honest men may not be able to resist temptation2 but it does not go to prove1 that cheating is not a crime4 ,besides1 it is punishable by law4 ,that's true1 replied the cunning ,chauvignac2 but again1 we have no proof that the law is right4 ,i maintain1 that1 far from being reprehensible1 the art of turning aside ill-luck and bettering one's fortune1 is a thing which ought to be encouraged4 ,olivier could not help smiling4 ,i am serious1 added ,chauvignac4 ,yes6 ,the art of winning at play is meritorious4 ,and why8 ,because it is useful4 ,if the ,government had any sense1 they would not only encourage cheating1 but give a premium for it4 ,then ,i don't know what morality means4 ,only1 because you have not studied pure philosophy1 as ,i have4 ,hold--to make you understand it better1 ,i will just give you an example4 ,how often do we hear of deaths caused by eating mushrooms6 ,well1 if people imagined that all mushrooms were poisonous1 of course no one would venture to partake of them4 ,it is the same with gambling2 if people expected to lose every time they played1 few would run the risk of trusting to their luck at cards1 and play would become what it ought to be1 a mere relaxation and amusement4 ,thus the ,greeks would have done more for morality1 than all the moralists in the world4 ,therefore1 ,i confess to you1 that ,i1 who would not rob any one of a pin1 have not only no scruple in doing my best to control fate1 but1 in cheating1 ,i think ,i carry out a principle1 eminently useful to humanity4 ,the art of cheating at play1 is to me only high philosophy put in practice4 ,young ,olivier had listened with the most intense interest1 to the eloquent pleading of his friend in favour of cheating1 and it was easy to perceive1 that his feelings of probity on the subject1 were giving way before the subtle sophistry of the tempter1 and that he already began to approve of some of the arguments he had heard in its favour4 ,chauvignac perceived it1 and wishing to continue his work of evil-- ,let us see1 added he1 in an insinuating manner1 what have we to weigh in your own case8 ,on the one hand1 wealth1 pleasure1 and enjoyment of every description2 on the other hand1 hard-hearted creditors1 misery1 and ruin4 ,but1 observed ,olivier at length1 quite carried away in spite of himself1 one might be discovered1 and then-- ,how weak and childish you are6--,here1 come into this caf with me1 and you shall see how easily these things are done4 ,you see yonder big ,benoit1 with his small annuity4 ,i am going to propose a game of piquet to him1 and make him pay for a cup of coffee for each of us4 ',tis a pity he has not more to lose4 ,benoit is accosted by these gentlemen4 ,the game and the stake are accepted3 the result is not long delayed4 ,in two hands the game was over4 ,chauvignac and his friend left the caf1 and once in the street1 the former put the finishing stroke to his unworthy maxims4 ,there1 it is not difficult1 you observe1 said he4 ,oh6 how delightful it is to be able to wrestle with fate1 by fleecing a set of simpletons1 whom that capricious ,dame ,fortune loves so often to favour4 ,does it take long to learn8 said ,olivier1 quite bewildered with all he had seen and heard4 ,that depends upon circumstances1 replied his perfidious friend2 it is with this art1 as with the piano1 one can soon give pleasure2 it depends on the professor1 and his method of teaching4 ,but1 as we are not far from where ,i live1 come in2 and whilst we smoke a cigar together1 ,i'll explain a few things to you4 ,olivier still rather hesitated to follow him4 ,oh6 nonsense6 it binds you to nothing2 you can do just as you please4 ,it is as well to know a little of everything1 and at all events1 if you do not like to practise the system yourself1 it will put you on your guard when attacked4 ,one never knows what may happen4 ,chauvignac would certainly not have taken so much trouble about the matter1 if he had not had in view some act of treachery towards his companion4 ,the conversation ended by ,olivier accepting the offer held out to him4 ,behold them now1 seated on a sofa1 each with a cigar in his mouth1 and ,chauvignac with a pack of cards in his hand4 ,look6 here is a hand1 tell me if you see any signs of cheating in any of the cards8 ,the novice examined the cards with great attention1 but not being an adept in the art1 failed to discover anything4 ,you observe nothing in this hand of cards8 said ,chauvignac4 ,they have1 however1 been subjected to a process that we call biseautage1,h or having one end made narrower than the other4 ,this system shows the player what cards he is to retain1 and how to class them1 in the order he requires for playing4 ,chauvignac1 joining precept to example1 showed his friend the way it was to be done4 ,now1 added he1 to prove to you that this trick is not difficult1 ,i will make you do it yourself4 ,let us sit down at this table1 and suppose we are playing for a thousand francs4 ,although ,olivier had no great talent for sleight of hand1 he succeeded in learning from his friend how to gain the whole of the five tricks1 twice running1 at cart4 ,this trick1 said ,chauvignac to him1 is one of the first1 as well as the most easy1 in the art of cheating4 ,in a little while1 ,i shall teach you how to play with prepared cards1 and you will1 in time1 ,i hope1 become an accomplished philosopher4 ,olivier made no reply1 his mind was in a perfect state of chaos1 from the thousand and one thoughts which filled it4 ,the tempter1 judging his victim to be now sufficiently compromised1 left him to the temptations which he had suggested to him4 ,he made the excuse of having some visits to pay1 and the two friends separated4 ,two days afterwards the ,professor went to see his pupil4 ,would you like to join me1 asked he1 in a little tour of pleasure ,i am about to make8 ,your kind proposal is badly timed1 replied ,olivier4 ,i am not only without funds just now1 but ,i am trying to obtain a thousand francs1 to pay a cursed bill of exchange that ,i signed1 and which falls due this very day4 ,is that all8 said ,chauvignac1 taking a banknote for the amount out of his pocket-book--,here it is2 but mind1 you must return it to me to-morrow4 ,you are deranged4 ,perhaps ,i am1 but in my insanity1 ,i am mad enough to offer you another thousand francs1 to enable you to go and secure thirty thousand which are awaiting you4 ,pray explain yourself1 or else you will turn my brain also6 ,listen3 if ever there was a desperate gambler1 it is the ,count de ,vandermool1 a rich ,belgian capitalist1 and who can well afford to lose a hundred thousand francs 7#djjjl474 ,he is just now in ,boulogne1 and intends remaining there a week4 ,we must bleed this millionnaire2 nothing will be more easy1 as a friend and colleague of mine from ,paris1 named ,chaffard1 is already acquainted with him1 so all we have to do is to set to work at once4 ,you are now one of us4 ,that is well understood1 is it not8 ,in a short time you will be able to satisfy your creditors1 and to give your mistress a ,cashmere shawl4 ,but you go too quick1 said ,olivier in a wavering tone4 ,wait a bit1 ,i have not yet said yes4 ,i don't ask you to say 'yes' now1 you shall say it at ,boulogne--make haste1 and go and pay your bill2 we shall leave this in two hours4 ,the post-horses are ordered1 we shall start from my house--be punctual4 ,the same evening the two philosophers arrive at ,boulogne4 ,they alight at the ,htel de ,l',univers1 which has been selected for them by their accomplice--by whom they are shortly welcomed4 ,he tells them they have no time to lose1 as the ,count has spoken of quitting ,boulogne the following day4 ,the travellers swallow a hasty dinner1 make some slight toilette1 and bend their steps towards the apartment occupied by the ,count1 preceded by ,chaffard1 who introduces them as two friends of his1 who have estates in the neighbourhood4 ,the ,count de ,vandermool is a man about fifty years of age1 he has an open and pleasing countenance2 on his breast hang several foreign decorations4 ,the new arrivals are received by him with the most flattering cordiality2 he does more2 he invites them to spend the evening with him4 ,the invitation1 it is needless to say1 is accepted4 ,the conversation1 at first animated1 begins to flag a little4 ,the ,count proposes a game of cards1 which proposal is also eagerly accepted by the three confederates4 ,whilst the tables are being arranged1 ,chauvignac gave his young friend two packs of cards1 biseautes1 to be substituted for those which should be produced by the ,count4 cart was the game fixed on1 and ,olivier was selected to play with the ,belgian2 the two others having pretended not to know the game1 contented themselves by betting one against the other--as their interests were in common1 it was of little consequence which won the bet4 ,olivier was at first thunderstruck at the assertion of his two friends1 that they did not know how to play1 but from certain telegraphic signs they made to him1 he discovered that it was to prevent suspicion1 in case he should win4 ,the wealthy ,count would only play for bank-notes4 ,metal1 he said1 has not an agreeable odour in a drawing-room4 ,the young novice1 at first confused by being a party to such a snare1 neglected for a time to take advantage of the prepared cards1 and following the dictates of his conscience1 trusted to the chances of fortune4 ,the capricious goddess1 far from being grateful for his trust1 forsook him4 ,in two hands1 the only thousand-franc note he possessed fell into the hands of his opponent4 ,now it is1 that1 pressed on by the glances of ,chauvignac1 as well as anxious to regain his loss1 ,olivier essays some of the manoeuvres which his friend had taught him4 ,they were easy to execute1 for the ,count was so near-sighted1 that his nose was almost buried in his cards4 ,of course the luck now turned1 and the bank-notes began to accumulate beside ,olivier1 who1 elated with his success1 was indefatigable in his work4 ,the ,count ,vandermool was a good-tempered player4 ,his repeated losses did not make him lose his jovial good-humour4 ,to look at his happy countenance1 you would certainly have thought he was the winner4 ,i am not in a lucky vein1 observed he1 good-naturedly1 taking a pinch of snuff from a superb gold snuff-box4 ,in this last trick1 ,i vainly hoped to gain all1 and ,i've got nothing4 ,olivier was serious1 his mind was not in a state to talk lightly4 ,he continued to handle his cards with feverish eagerness4 ,not wishing1 however1 to seem wanting in politeness towards so noble a host--,you are admirable to-night1 said he to him with a faint smile4 ',admirable1' do you say--,yes1 yes1 ,monsieur ,olivier1 that's the word4 ,i wish you joy4 ,go on2 give me some cards6 ,it is useless to go on4 ,trump1 and then trump4 ,i cut1 and it is the king of diamonds1 which stands good--this gives me the five points4 ,ah6 ill-luck has certainly fastened on me this evening1 said the ,count1 that makes eighty thousand francs ,i have lost2 ,i see ,i shall soon make up the hundred thousand4 ,i think it right to tell you1 that ,i never go beyond that sum1 and that if ,i am to lose it1 ,i shall propose having some supper before ,i lose my last twenty thousand4 ,perhaps1 that may change my luck2 you certainly owe me this much4 ,the proposition to sup1 met with general approbation4 ,olivier1 almost out of his wits with joy1 at becoming the possessor of eighty thousand francs1 could not resist the impulse he felt to testify his feelings of gratitude to ,chauvignac4 ,he drew him aside1 and shook him warmly by the hand4 ,the wretched man had no idea of the cruel deception which had been practised on him1 and which had all been pre-arranged by his two comrades4 ,the rich ,belgian capitalist1 the respectable count1 was no other than a clever ,parisian sharper1 whom ,chauvignac had persuaded to come1 for the express purpose of ruining the unfortunate young man1 who never perceived1 whilst his back was turned1 that the count changed the two packs of clipped cards which they had hitherto used1 for two packs biseautes in the contrary way4 ,during supper they drank but little1 wishing to keep their heads clear4 ,the meal1 nevertheless1 was very merry2 and as soon as it was over1 they recommenced playing4 ,now1 said the ,parisian sharper1 seating himself at the table1 ,i wish to end this affair one way or other1 quickly4 ,let us make the stake twenty thousand francs 7#hjjl474 ,olivier1 after having won so largely1 could not but accept the proposition4 ,it was only just towards his adversary4 ,but1 oh6 cruel deception6 the stake of twenty thousand francs1 on which ,olivier had so surely counted1 passed into the hands of his opponent4 ,a stake of forty thousand francs shared the fate of its predecessor4 ,breathless1 bewildered1 and discouraged1 ,olivier knew not what to do4 ,in vain he manipulated the cards2 he got none but the lowest1 whilst his adversary had all the trumps in his hand2 and as it was ,olivier who dealt them to him1 he could not complain4 ,in his despair1 he looked enquiringly at ,chauvignac1 who made signs to him to go on4 ,distracted1 and quite beside himself1 the poor victim continued to stake enormous sums2 and1 in his turn1 shortly owed his adversary a hundred thousand francs4 ,the pretended count then gave up playing1 folded his arms1 and thus addressed ,olivier3 ,m4 ,olivier de ,x----1 said he1 in a stern tone of voice1 you must be very well off1 to stake such sums2 but be careful1 for1 rich as you are1 you must be aware1 that if people lose a hundred thousand francs1 they must also pay them1 as ,i did4 ,so now1 just pay me the sum you have lost1 and then we'll go on playing4 ,that's only fair1 sir1 muttered young ,olivier2 ,i am willing to satisfy your demands1 but you know that gambling debts 444 my word4444 ,devil take it1 sir1 exclaimed the count1 giving the table a violent blow with his fist4 ,what's that you say about your word8 ,it well becomes you to talk of debts of honour4 ,we'll play1 if you please1 another kind of game1 and let us put things as they really are4 ,m4 ,olivier de ,x----1 you are a knave6 ,yes2 a knave6 ,the cards you have been using are clipped2 and it is you who have brought them here4 ,sir1 you insult me4 ,you don't say so1 sir1 said the count1 ironically4 ,sir1 this is too much--,i demand satisfaction for this--and that immediately4 ,do you hear1 sir8 let us go1 and settle it at once4 ,no1 no1 let us remain here1 and settle this affair of honour4 ,stay1 your two friends will be your witnesses1 and ,i will send to some of my friends1 to come and be mine4 ,scarcely had the sharper uttered these words1 than he got up1 and rang violently4 ,his servant answered the bell4 ,go to the ,procureur du ,roi1 and ask him to come here at once1 on an affair of great importance2 make haste1 do you understand8 ,pardon6 sir1 pardon6 ,do not ruin me1 said the unhappy ,olivier1 in a tone of supplication4 ,i throw myself on your mercy4 tienne1 mind you wait outside that door1 and if1 in ten minutes1 you do not receive orders to the contrary you will do as ,i told you4 ,now then1 sir1 continued the count1 turning to ,olivier1 ,i will talk to you4 ,these cards have been substituted by you in the place of those which ,i had provided4 ,i insist upon your making these cards up in a packet1 and sealing them with the ring on your finger1 which bears your crest and coat of arms4 ,in vain ,olivier looked from one to the other2 neither ,chauvignac nor ,chaffard gave him any encouragement1 but looked at him as much as to say1 there was nothing for it but to do as he was desired4 ,olivier obeyed4 ,as soon as the demand had been complied with1 the pretended ,belgian again attacked him4 ,besides1 this is not all1 sir2 ,i have fairly won my money1 and you will give me a guarantee that it will be paid to me4 ,you will give me bills at sight for the sum of one hundred thousand francs which you owe me4 ,the unhappy ,olivier hesitating to comply with this demand1 his implacable creditor rose and seized the bell4 ,oh6 do not ring1 sir--do not ring1 said the young man1 ,i will sign the paper4 ,and he signed it4 ,the villainous plot was consummated4 ,olivier returned to his family1 and humbly confessed all that he had done4 ,his old father1 rather than bring disgrace on his child1 paid the money1 esteeming his son's honour beyond all price4 ,the ,society of ,philosophers had shared in this roguery1 in the persons of ,chaffard and the ,belgian capitalist4 ,to ,chaffard was delegated the arrangement of the money department2 and so well did he manage the business1 that1 in a very short space of time1 he had the satisfaction of receiving a hundred thousand francs1 in exchange for the bills which he held4 ,chauvignac1 ever watchful for his own interest1 immediately claimed his portion of the booty4 ,half the sum 7as had been agreed on7 was handed over to him1 for having arranged the scheme and prepared the victim4 ,the remaining fifty thousand francs were left in the hands of ,chaffard1 to be divided between the three philosophers4 ,but the cunning rascal finding himself in possession of funds sufficient to give him a year's enjoyment and luxury1 and living1 as he did1 in fear from day to day of being arrested for his numerous misdeeds1 instead of going to ,paris1 directed his steps to ,brussels1 to play in his turn 7but in good earnest7 the rle of a ,french capitalist4 ,in a moment of weakness1 ,chaffard had confided his project to ,chauvignac1 who immediately wrote1 and told the two other philosophers of it4 ,raymond1 who was a philosopher in the true acceptation of the word1 received the news with great coolness2 he had learned to his cost that one must never depend on the honour of a rogue4 ,this fresh escapade of ,chaffard did not surprise him2 he had rather expected it4 ,with ,andras it was otherwise3 furious at seeing himself the puppet of a man whom he regarded as his inferior1 if not in bodily strength1 at least in intelligence and sagacity1 he swore that he would overtake the thief1 and make him disgorge his ill-gotten gains4 ,full of artifices and schemes1 he started for ,belgium2 but1 by way of precaution1 he took with him1 as a fellow-traveller and companion1 a celebrated pugilist--a sort of herculean bull-dog1 whom he intended to let loose at his antagonist1 if occasion required4 ,once separated from the man1 whom he had every reason to regard as his bad angel1 ,raymond felt no longer sufficient strength to follow the dangerous profession1 into which he had been so fatally enticed4 ,the constant dangers by which he was surrounded1 a last spark of conscience1 and a return of better feelings1 made him determine to quit for ever the discreditable career which he was following4 ,possessed of twenty thousand francs1 he had sufficient funds to keep him for awhile1 and give him time to find some employment1 which would enable him to live honourably4 ,but after some months1 led on by his old love of gambling in general and roulette in particular1 he visited the various spas and watering-places1 where those engines of ruin1 gambling tables1 are to be found1 and where he undertook his famous crusade against the banks and their croupiers4 ,we know the result of the calculations and computations of ,voisin ,raymond1--the inevitable fate of all gamesters who count on benefiting by the favours of fortune4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it took ,raymond some days to narrate to me the above story1 as1 when the clock struck the hour for beginning to play1 he immediately quitted me1 and thought of nothing but his hypothetical combinations4 ,he was trying a new system1 about which1 by-the-bye1 he would never tell me a word1 but ,i had little doubt that it would prove as fallacious as the former one1 and leave him nothing but his own bright dreams as his reward4 ,when ,i quitted ,baden1 he was penniless1 and ,i had to add to the loan ,i had already made him4 ,since his conversion1 ,i had had good proof1 that he preferred suffering the most severe privations1 rather than have recourse to his skill in sharping2 and this it was which made me advance him a larger sum4 ,when we parted1 ,i left ,raymond overjoyed with the hopes of being able to repay me all he owed1 in a very short space of time1 and even of being able to break the bank with the money ,i had lent him4 ,these golden visions1 alas6 were never destined to be realised4 ,soon afterwards1 ,i went to ,paris to resume my sances1 and whilst there1 ,i received a letter from ,raymond1 making a last appeal to my generosity1 to enable him to live until he got a situation he was trying for4 ,wishing to prevent a recurrence of similar appeals1 ,i did not answer his letter1 but wrote to one of my friends at ,strasbourg1 to send the wretched man fifty francs1 without telling him the name of his benefactor4 ,a whole year passed without my hearing any more of ,raymond4 ,i thought it very probable he had died of want1 when one day1 on returning home in a cab1 ,i could not drive up to my own door1 as an elegant brougham1 which had just driven up1 was standing opposite to it4 ,i therefore got out1 and what was my astonishment1 at recognising in my visitor1 ,voisin ,raymond1 extremely well dressed1 and sporting all his beard1 as in the former happy roulette days1 except that it was not quite so long4 ,i almost hesitated to address him1 so great was my surprise2 ,i thought ,i must be the victim of an illusion4 ,ah6 exclaimed ,raymond 7making use of precisely the same words he did at our first meeting at ,baden71 how a beard changes a man6 especially when that man is transformed into a demi-millionnaire6 ,come in quickly1 said ,i to ,raymond1 ,i am curious to know1 to what lucky chance you owe your present prosperity4 ,my visitor followed me without uttering a word1 and even after our entrance into the drawing-room1 still remained silent4 ,i was the first to speak4 ,how is it1 my friend1 that your great good luck has never been mentioned in the newspapers8 ,you know1 that when the bank loses1 they make a point of giving the fact publicity through the press1 in hopes of alluring fresh players8 ,still no reply from ,raymond2 but1 after a protracted silence of several moments1 he said3 ,i am doing my best to find some means of prolonging your error2 not finding any1 ,i decide to tell you the truth4 ,you doubtless remember1 that when ,i commenced the history of my life1 out of respect for one of the members of my family1 ,i concealed my name4 ,it was out of regard to my brother1 who held a high appointment in the magistracy4 ,this brother1 who1 thank ,god6 knew nothing of my doings1 except that ,i had run through my fortune1 died three months since1 without leaving a will4 ,i am his sole heir1 and have come into twenty-five thousand francs a year4 ,this is how ,i have managed to become a rich man4 ,i have entirely renounced gambling1 continued ,raymond4 ,i am rich enough for all ,i require1 and have no ambition to become more wealthy4 ,i could now1 however1 added he1 with an air of triumph1 break every one of the banks1 if ,i liked2 and what a glorious vengeance ,i could take for all my former ill-luck6 ,fortunately1 my heart is too full of happiness to leave any room for vengeance4 99 99 99 99 99 ,raymond took up his abode in the ,marais1 where he lived respected4 ,i lost sight of him1 when ,i went to reside in the country2 but three years afterwards1 ,i had occasion to come to ,paris1 and learned that my friend had died1 and left all his fortune to various charitable institutions in the capital4 ,,the ,,technical ,,part4 ,we are now come to the most important part of this work4 ,i intend1 in it1 to explain to the reader1 the manoeuvres of the different sorts of ,greeks ,i have just sketched4 ,to make this more intelligible1 it will be necessary for me to enter into certain details1 which will1 ,i trust1 prove interesting4 ,i must preface this1 however1 by mentioning1 that nothing is further from my intention1 than to give a lecture on sleight-of-hand4 ,i care more about putting the public on their guard1 than about teaching them how the tricks are performed4 ,i shall merely mention what is absolutely necessary1 to make those who play1 ,,sharp1 and warn them against ,,sharpers4 ,,general ,,rules4 ,,the ,,different ,,tricks ,,practised ,,at ,,games ,,of ,,cards4 #a4 ,the saut de coupe4 #b4 ,the passe-coupe1 or cut beneath4 #c4 ,the enjambage1 or cut above4 #d4 ,the carte large1 or large card4 #e4 ,the pont1 or bridge4 #f4 ,the carte tuile1 or bent card4 #g4 ,the filage1 or card changed4 #h4 ,the enlevage1 or card abstracted4 #i4 ,the posage1 or card replaced4 #aj4 ,the carte l'oeil1 or glance4 #aa4 ,the substitution des jeux1 or pack of cards substituted4 #ab4 ,the bote la manche1 or box of cards in the sleeve4 #ac4 ,the faux mlanges1 or false shuffle4 #ad4 ,the mlange classificateur1 or arranged shuffle4 #ae4 ,the mlange partiel1 or partial shuffle4 #af4 ,the ventail1 or fan4 #ag4 ,the queue d'aronde1 or dove-tail4 #ah4 ,the cartes adhrentes ou glissantes1 or adherent or sliding cards4 #ai4 ,the cartes teintes1 or tinted cards4 #bj4 ,the cartes hors d'querre1 or slanting cards4 #ba4 ,the cartes pointes1 or pricked cards4 #bb4 ,the cartes morfiles1 or cards with indented edges4 #bc4 ,the cartes ondules1 or wavy cards4 #bd4 ,the cartes tarotes1 or enamelled cards4 #be4 ,the cartes marques1 or marked cards4 #bf4 ,the chapelet1 or rosary4 #bg4 ,the bague marquer1 or ring for marking4 #bh4 ,the tabatire rflexion1 or reflecting snuff-box4 #bi4 ,the tlgraphie1 or telegraph4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,false ,,cut4 ,the saut de coupe--,the passe-coupe--,the cut above--,the large card--,the bridge--,the bent card4 ,the art of making a false cut1 is the most important artifice employed by sharpers3 and the ,greek always exerts his best energies to accomplish this feat4 ,in order to show what a false cut is1 ,i must recall to the mind of my reader1 the use and end of the regular cut4 ,in all games of cards1 it is the custom for the dealer1 when he has done shuffling1 to present the pack of cards to his adversary to cut3 it is a sort of guarantee of good faith1 which is also performed even amongst perfectly honest players4 ,the following is the way in which it is generally done3-- ,the cards are placed by the dealer near his adversary4 ,illustration3 --- ,,the ,,dealer4 #a ,,the ,,adversary4 --- ,the adversary cuts1 that is to say1 he takes away a portion of the pack of cards1 and places them beside the dealer1 thus making two packets1 ,no4 #a and ,no4 #b4 ,illustration3 --- --- ,,the ,,dealer4 #a #b ,,the ,,adversary4 --- --- ,the dealer raises the packet ,no4 #b and places it on ,no4 #a4 ,illustration3 --- ,,the ,,dealer4 #b ,,the ,,adversary4 --- ,thus the two packets are formed into one1 and the natural or artificial arrangement of the cards is disordered4 ,it is of great importance to the ,greek to prevent this1 as it would defeat his plans1 and prevent him availing himself of the arrangements he has made against his adversary4 ,it is necessary1 then1 for his success1 that the two packets1 whilst in his hands1 should regain their first position4 ,for this purpose1 he employs different methods1 the principal of which are3-- #a4 ,the saut de coupe4 #b4 ,the cut beneath4 #c4 ,the cut above4 #d4 ,the bridge4 #e4 ,the large card4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,saut ,,de ,,coupe4 ,the reader who is uninitiated in the mysteries of sleight of hand1 will probably think it incredible1 not to say impossible1 that a ,greek can thus transpose invisibly the arrangement of two packs of cards1 before the very eyes of his adversaries4 ,nothing1 however1 is more true4 ,the treatises on sleight of hand give the method of executing this trick4 ,as this work1 however1 has not for its object the same sort of instruction1 ,i shall content myself with unveiling here1 the preparations and arrangements necessary for the performance of the trick4 ,when the ,greek1 takes up the packet of cards ,no4 #b1 to place them on ,no4 #a1 as before mentioned1 instead of placing them equally one upon the top of the other which would prevent his being able to distinguish them1 he places ,no4 #b a little further back than ,no4 #a1 so that the latter advances about a quarter of an inch beyond1 as exemplified below1 in figure #d4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4 ,by means of this projection of the cards1 the ,greek1 as soon as he gets the pack between his hands1 slips the little finger of his left hand between the two packets ,nos4 #a and #b1 and holds himself in readiness ,sauter la coupe1,i when the opportunity serves4 ,clever swindlers have yet another1 and more adroit1 manner of keeping the two packets separate4 ,they will1 with the right hand1 take up packet ,no4 #b as if to place it on the other2 but1 instead of so doing1 they manage to keep the two sufficiently apart1 to enable them to slip the little finger of the left hand between1 in the same way as before mentioned4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4 ,i have just said1 that a ,greek always waits his opportunity to execute the sliding cut4 ,it is only the new hands who are in a hurry4 ,the experienced sharper always bides his time1 and1 whilst relating some amusing anecdote1 accompanied by a variety of gestures and gesticulations with his other hand1 completely draws off the attention of the company1 and prevents their watching his performances4 ,for example1 ,what are the stakes8 he will ask1 with an air of unconsciousness1 stretching out his hand towards them2 and with the same gesture towards the score1 he will ascertain the number of points1 as if he was not thinking what he was about4 ,but let the sliding-cut be performed ever so well1 it is very difficult to practise it where the play is high4 ,in such company1 every dealer ought to be sober in his movements2 for1 the least gesture which deviates from the regular rules1 in sorting1 shuffling1 or dealing the cards1 is certain to awaken suspicion4 ,but a ,greek is1 notwithstanding1 seldom at fault2 if he fail with one trickery1 he has another at hand1 his rpertoire being as varied as it is numerous4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,passe-,,coupe1 ,,or ,,cut ,,beneath4 ,all sharpers are cunning1 clever1 and tricky1 but they do not all possess the same facility for tricks of sleight of hand4 ,many of them not being able to accomplish the sliding cut1 so as not to be seen1 are obliged to have recourse to other tricks less difficult4 ,of this number is the passe-coupe4 ,this trick is of the same use as the preceding one1 and1 if well executed1 stands as little chance of being discovered4 ,in order to explain this trick1 it is necessary for me to revert to that paragraph where the cards have been divided into two packs by cutting4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4 --- --- ,,the ,,greek4 #a #b ,,the ,,dupe4 --- --- ,the ,greek1 in taking up the two packets of cards1 instead of putting ,no4 #b on ,no4 #a1 slides it in underneath1 as in figure #g4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4 ,when he has raised packet ,no4 #b1 he places it between the first and second fingers1 and whilst raising packet ,no4 #a1 artfully manages to slide it underneath4 ,to facilitate this manoeuvre1 the rogue takes care to bend the cards whilst he shuffles them4 ,some ,greeks1 instead of placing the packet ,no4 #b between the two first fingers1 merely take the cards into their hands1 and slide them beneath one another1 as above described4 ,but in this latter case the transposition is easily discovered4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,enjambage1 ,,or ,,cut ,,above4 ,the cut above is a very simple and clever trick1 and it is astonishing1 when one knows it1 to think how easily people are deceived1 and that it should not be discovered4 ,however1 ,i candidly confess1 the first time ,i saw it done1 ,i was taken in1 as others are4 ,in this trick1 the ,greek1 instead of placing packet ,no4 #b on packet ,no4 #a1 passes the former over without stopping into the left hand1 which he holds a little in advance1 and places packet ,no4 #a on the top4 ,this trick1 as well as the preceding one1 is more especially practised in public-houses and places of low resort4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,carte ,,large1 ,,or ,,large ,,card4 ,the heading of this division sufficiently indicates the nature of the trick ,i am about to describe4 ,it is to have one card larger than all the rest4 ,when introduced into a pack this card1 by its projection1 almost forces the pack to divide1 wherever the person who places it wishes4 ,if the ,greek has previously arranged the cards as he wishes them to be1 their being cut1 in no way disarranges his plans1 as the card alluded to remains where it was placed at the commencement of the deal4 ,the large card is also used by the swindler as a sort of mark1 to alter the cut to wherever he thinks it would be most beneficial to him4 ,,part ,v4 ,,the ,,pont1 ,,or ,,bridge4 ,the bridge is one of the oldest tricks in use amongst sharpers1 and it is almost impossible to be on one's guard against its use1 when well done4 ,as in the preceding examples1 it is used to make a false cut1 and thus to retain the cards as they have been arranged by the sharper to enable him to win4 ,the pack of cards must be held in the right hand1 and bent1 by pressing them against the first finger of the left4 ,the upper part of the pack must then be bent in an opposite direction1 so as to form an arch1 as in figure #h4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4 ,this being accomplished1 the upper portion of the pack is laid on the top of the other1 as if to mix the cards4 ,the two bent cards are thus brought in contact1 and it is the gap produced by these two arcs1 which forces the cut to be made oftener at that spot than at any other1 as represented in figure #i4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4 ,the smallest space between any two cards is sufficient for this purpose4 ,the carte tuile1 or card bent lengthways1 is also used for this purpose4 ,the two portions of the pack1 being bent lengthways1 and laid face to face1 are sure to make the cut at that particular spot1 by causing a division in the pack2 but this trick is not so good as the last-mentioned1 and is1 consequently1 seldom employed4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,to ,,change ,a ,,card4 ,filer la carte is to change one card for another4 ,in the hands of an adroit sharper1 this change is performed so instantaneously1 that it is almost impossible for the quickest eye to detect it4 ,let us suppose that1 in dealing the cards1 the ,greek discovers1 by means which ,i will hereafter explain1 that the card he is going to give to his adversary would be advantageous to himself1 he hides1 or slips away1 the card which ought to have been dealt to his adversary1 and gives him1 instead1 the one which follows4 ,i will just explain how this manoeuvre is managed4 ,when the ,greek intends to perform this trick1 he takes care1 whilst dealing1 to push two cards a little in advance of the rest of the pack1 as shown in ,nos4 #a and #b in figure #aj4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4 ,in a regular deal1 ,no4 #a would be given before ,no4 #b2 but if the ,greek thinks it to his interest to retain it1 he substitutes the second for the first4 ,thus1 by holding the two cards together1 between his thumb and forefinger1 he pushes them contrary ways1 that is to say1 he pushes ,no4 #b forward1 and ,no4 #a backward1 as represented in the figure below4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aa4 ,he then passes over the first card with his right hand1 and gives the second4 ,this feat1 which ,i have been obliged to explain thus lengthily1 to make it clearly understood1 ought to be done instantaneously1 and with the rapidity of lightning4 ,those who are expert1 whilst advancing the right hand to give a card1 at the same time draw back the left4 ,this manoeuvre completely deceives the eye1 and may be practised as often as is necessary for the card in reserve to come into the hand of the ,greek4 ,to give an idea how completely a person may be deceived by this trick1 ,i will just relate what once happened to myself4 ,a certain ,greek 7of whom ,i have already spoken in my ,memoirs7 was anxious to show me this trick1 and by way of illustrating his theory1 selected the ,king of ,spades1 and placed it on the top of the pack4 ,he then dealt the cards one after the other1 and by thirty-one successive filages1 he so managed1 that the ,king of ,spades was the last card of the pack4 ,i acknowledge1 and indeed ,i do so still1 that so adroit was he1 that though ,i knew the trick myself1 ,i could not detect him4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,abstracted ,,card4 ,when one has not been initiated into the mysteries of sleight-of-hand1 it is difficult to believe that a sharper can abstract several cards1 and put them back again1 under the very eyes of his antagonist1 without being detected4 ,such1 however1 is the fact4 ,the art of abstracting cards is one of the most useful tricks in sleight-of-hand1 and it requires great skill and adroitness to perform the feat cleverly4 ,in order to do this trick1 the ,greek keeps the cards he wishes to abstract1 placed diagonally in his left hand1 at the top of the others1 and a little advanced towards his right hand2 as in figure #ab4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab4 ,he takes possession of the cards with his right hand1 and holds them tightly between the top joints of the four fingers1 and the first joint of the thumb1 or the thenar1 as it is termed in medical parlance4 ,the cards are consequently slightly bent1 as in figure #ac4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ac4 ,there is yet another manner of abstracting cards2 but it is less practised by sharpers1 than by conjurors1 who often show off the trick in various ways1 where it would be impossible for a sharper to make use of it4 ,it simply consists in holding the cards lightly1 between the thumb and little finger of the hand which takes up the cards2 a very slight pressure will do1 and in this manner the cards do not require to be bent4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ad4 ,my readers will doubtless be surprised to hear1 that as many as six cards can be thus hidden in the hand1 at one time1 without being seen2 and it will astonish them even more1 when ,i tell them1 that a clever sharper will1 with the same hand where the cards are concealed1 cut and go on with the game1 gesticulating in the most natural way1 without any difficulty4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,card ,,replaced4 ,once in possession of the cards which he has abstracted1 the ,greek1 whether the game he is playing be ,lansquenet1 ,baccarat1 or ,vingt-et-un1 replaces them in the pack in such a way1 that they will be sure when dealt to return to him4 ,this trick is the easiest to execute that ,i have yet described4 ,the ,greek waits1 until it is his turn to gather up1 either the whole1 or a portion of1 the pack2 then1 whilst drawing them towards him1 he quietly places the cards he had in reserve on the top1 taking care to hide the action1 by spreading out his hand over them4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,carte ,a ,l',,oeil1 ,,or ,,glance4 ,in playing1 it is sometimes necessary for the ,greek to obtain a sight of some particular card in the pack4 ,in order to do this1 he resorts to the following manoeuvre3-- ,one of his little fingers is slipped into the pack1 where the card he wishes to see1 lies2 quick as lightning he glances his eye across it1 and with such rapidity is the action performed1 that those playing with him cannot see it1 particularly as the backs of the cards are turned towards them1 and he is gesticulating with his other hand1 to draw off their attention4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,substitution ,,des ,,jeux1 ,,or ,,pack ,,of ,,cards ,,changed4 ,the substituted pack--,the box in the sleeve4 ,the way this is done depends much on the class of ,greek performing the trick4 ,the high-bred sharper1 for instance1 very seldom makes use of it2 he has other far more subtle methods1 unknown to his brother rogue of low life4 ,the following tricks1 however1 may be considered as common to ,greeks of every shade3-- ,a sharper has always under his coat1 at the back of his trowsers1 one or more little pockets1 termed finettes1 in which are carried the packs of cards he intends substituting for those of the house where he plays4 ,these cards are so placed1 that they can be drawn out with great facility1 as may be perceived by the sketch on the next page4 ,before the play begins1 the ,greek wanders about the room1 in the neighbourhood of the card-tables1 with his right hand placed1 as shown1 on his hip1 and seizes a favourable opportunity1 when he thinks no one is observing him1 to substitute his own pack for those on the table1 slipping the latter into a deep pocket called a profonde1 which he has under the flap of his coat4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ae4 ,others1 more bold in their manoeuvres1 do not fear to execute this trick before the very eyes of their adversaries4 ,to do this with ease1 pockets are made in the waistcoat1 and are called costires1 or side pockets1,j because they are made at the left side1 a little above the region of the heart4 ,they are entirely hidden by the coat4 #ast4 ,in seating himself at the table1 the ,greek artfully draws out of one of his pockets the prepared cards1 and holds them in readiness in his right hand1 as ,i have before described in the chapter on the ,abstraction of ,cards4 #bnd4 ,he then1 with his left hand1 takes up the pack which is on the table1 as if to withdraw it from its envelope1 and places his own pack on the top1 carefully hiding both packs with his right hand4 #crd4 ,he manages1 in cutting1 to put the false pack at the top1 and removes the other1 in the manner already related in the chapter on ,abstraction4 #dth4 ,finally1 he disposes of the original pack in his large pocket1 or profonde4 ,to accomplish this feat with greater facility1 he pretends to draw his chair nearer to the table1 which brings his hand in juxtaposition with his pocket4 ,all the operations above described1 may be regarded as one1 and are performed with infinite address and promptitude1 whilst the ,greek is entertaining his adversary with some animated and amusing discourse4 ,it is needless to say1 that the two envelopes of the cards are identical1 the ,greek of course having seen to that beforehand4 ,when sharpers find1 that they have to be continually changing the packs of cards1 and dread detection1 should they try the trick too often1 they arrange with one of their associates1 whom they bribe1 by offering him half the profits1 to go and take the place of a servant1 in those houses or clubs where they intend to cheat4 ,with such an arrangement1 the two ,greeks quietly pocket considerable sums4 ,others1 less wary1 take no accomplice1 but change the cards themselves4 ,the ,greek first finds out the name and address of the tradesman who furnishes the playing cards to the house or club1 which he is in the habit of frequenting4 ,he then goes to the shop1 and makes a few trifling purchases1 just to pave his way4 ,he does this more than once1 and returns again and again4 ,at length1 one fine day1 he calls at the shop to select1 for a friend 7he says71 a dozen1 or half a dozen1 packs of cards1 according as the shop is a large or a small one4 ,the next morning1 pretending that the cards are not of the colour required1 he takes them back again4 ,the packets being unopened1 the shopkeeper has no hesitation in receiving and changing them for others4 ,but the ,greek has passed the night1 in opening and re-sealing the packets by a peculiar process known to sharpers4 ,the cards have been marked by him1 before returning them to the shopkeeper1 who has them now in his shop4 ,the cheat is accomplished1 and the ,greek is biding his time4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,box ,,in ,,the ,,sleeve4 ,there is yet another way of changing the pack1 under the very eyes of your adversary4 ,it consists in having a tin box fastened to your arm1 under the sleeve of your coat1 and which is not perceptible4 ,in this box1 the ,greek carries the cards he has marked for his own purposes4 ,when it is his turn to cut1 he stretches out his hand across the table towards the pack1 so as to hide it entirely2 then1 resting his arm lightly on the tablecloth1 he presses a spring which opens the box1 out of which falls the marked pack1--at the same time that there comes out another spring1 which seizes the cards on the table1 and draws them into the box4 ,before concluding this chapter1 ,i ought to mention that1 though all these various tricks are each clever in their way1 they cannot be employed indiscriminately4 ,the operations in question must depend on circumstances1 and the manner of employing them should vary1 according to whether they be performed in a smoking-tavern1 a gambling-house1 a drawing-room1 or a club4 ,the ,greek knows well what will suit each party with whom he plays1 and rarely ventures on the trick without he is sure of succeeding4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,false ,,shuffle4 ,false shuffles3 ,the arranged shuffle--,the partial shuffle--,the fan--,the dove-tail4 ,it may be said that a false shuffle is not cheating1 since the cards are but retained in their original order4 ,such acts1 however1 are not far removed from cheating1 and the persons who are guilty of them may be compared to the receivers of stolen goods1 who1 though not the actual robbers1 are judged to be so by the law4 ,when the pack of cards has been arranged by the sharper1 whether he prepares them beforehand1 or only in the presence of his adversary1 he must be very careful not to disturb them4 ,to avoid this1 he has recourse to various methods of evading a proper shuffle4 ,of these there are four kinds1 which vary according to the circumstances required4 ,they are3 ,the arranged shuffle4 ,the partial shuffle4 ,the fan4 ,the dove-tail4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,arranged ,,shuffle4 ,the arranged shuffle consists in pretending to shuffle1 whilst all the time you are arranging the cards1 in the order you require them for cheating4 ,let us suppose1 for example1 that a ,greek1 in playing cart1 places in the pack four cards of the same suit1 three of which are trumps1 and the fourth is the turn-up card2 this he manages to do by arranging the shuffle in the following manner4 ,he divides the pack of cards into two parts1 holding one in each hand1 as it is usual to do in shuffling in the ordinary way4 ,in mixing the two packs1 he knows how to slip in successively1 above the four cards1 seven others1 which will complete the series necessary for the deal4 ,he then hands them to be cut1 makes a false cut1 and when he has dealt out the eleven cards1 the four remaining are three trumps and the turn-up card4 ,the arrangement of the game of ,piquet1 mentioned in another chapter1 is a further instance of this trick4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,partial ,,shuffle4 ,the partial shuffle is employed for those games1 where only a portion of the cards is distributed at a time1 such as cart4 ,in this instance1 we will suppose the ,greek to have arranged eleven cards1 so as to enable him to win the game1 and it is of consequence that these cards should not be disarranged4 ,he therefore puts these eleven cards at the bottom of the pack1 and1 at the same time1 carefully keeps his little finger between the upper and lower packet1 which he avoids mixing1 until after dealing the twenty-first card4 ,this done1 he performs the saut de coupe a second time1 to bring the arranged packet again on the top of the pack1 unless1 by making the bridge1 he gains the same end by forcing his adversary's cut4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,fan4 ,the following trick is termed the ,fan1 because the ,greek1 to do the false shuffle1 spreads the cards out in the shape of a fan4 ,he then divides the pack into two parts1 holding1 as before1 one in each hand2 then1 by a certain manipulation with the fingers of his right hand1 he passes the cards under those in the left1 which1 to the spectator1 gives the effect of mixing the cards2 but this is far from being the case4 ,the cards retain the position they would have done if the pack had been cut1 as the upper packet has passed beneath the lower one4 ,the operation1 consequently1 requires to be gone through a second time1 to bring the cards into their original position4 ,this shuffle may remain in the above condition as long as the ,greek finds it convenient4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,dove-,,tail4 ,the ways of doing the false shuffle are numerous1 each ,greek having some special method of his own4 ,all of them are more or less derived from the principles ,i have just described4 ,it would take too long1 as well as be useless1 to enter into the details of these proceedings1 as they are nearly all the same4 ,the false shuffle1 with which ,i am about to close this chapter1 is a peculiar one1 and is very often used by sharpers4 ,to prevent any suspicions which might be raised by the use of the preceding shuffle1 the ,greek sometimes employs the ,dove-tail1 which consists in separating the cards into two packs1 and then shuffling them one with the other2 but1 instead of finishing the shuffle by equalising the pack1 the ,greek manages to leave them at an angle as they are represented in figure #af below4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #af4 ,then begins an operation which is hidden by his right hand4 ,the ,greek1 after having passed packet ,no4 #a across packet ,no4 #b1 twists round the lower portion in a semicircle towards the right1 which completely separates it from the other1 and allows him to replace it beneath packet ,no4 #a1 as it originally was4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,doctored ,,cards4 ,cartes biseautes--,tinted cards--,sticky or slippery cards-- ,slanting cards--,pricked cards--,cards with indented edges-- ,wavy cards--,chequered cards--,marked cards4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,cartes ,,biseaut,,es4 ,the ,biseaute ,card was one of the principal methods of cheating in the last century4 ,the trick1 at that period1 was only known to the adepts of the higher ranks1 and with it they succeeded in victimising numbers of people4 ,it is now chiefly made use of in public-houses1 for it is so plain and palpable an artifice1 that it could not fail to be discovered by more intelligent people than those who frequent these resorts4 ,the real signification of biseautes cards is1 that they are larger at one end than at the other1 as in figure #ag4 ,to do this1 the ,greek1 with a pair of sharp scissors1 cuts both sides of every card1 beginning at the twentieth part of an inch1 and going off to nothing4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ag4 ,all the cards being equally clipped at one end1 if they are placed contrariwise1 it is evident the edges will protrude the smallest bit possible beyond the other cards1 and can be easily discovered by the sharper1 however carefully they may have been shuffled by the opposite party4 ,what answers with one card1 will do so equally with all4 ,thus1 we will suppose the ,greek has put all the court cards one way1 and the common cards the other1 he can1 by feeling the cards in cutting1 cut a court card or not1 as he pleases4 ,this ,i merely give as one example1 for slanting cards can be used in various other ways4 ,some ,greeks make use of cards cut on both sides1 in two opposite ways3 it is the same thing under another form4 ,for instance1 the cards represented below are cut so that the edge of some are convex1 as in figure #ah1 and others concave1 as in figure #ai4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #ah and #ai4 ,the result1 with these cards1 is the same as with the preceding1 only that the latter afford a greater scope for cheating4 ,the more expert a sharper is1 the less is it necessary to cut the edges of the cards2 indeed1 ,i have seen some so slightly cut1 that you were obliged to examine them with the greatest minuteness to find it out4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,tinted1 ,,or ,,stained ,,card4 ,when white cards are not of first-rate quality1 many of them are slightly tinted or stained2 that is to say1 the purity of the white varies4 ,this imperfection is caused by the bad quality of the card-board of which they are manufactured4 ,from these slight shades1 the ,greek can1 after seeing them for a few moments1 recognise many of the cards4 ,if there are no blemishes or stains on them1 the ,greek contrives to give them various tints1 which he alone can perceive4 ,to this end1 he rubs very lightly over1 with a cloth dipped in blacklead1 such of the cards as he wishes to know again4 ,the person with whom the ,greek is playing1 even if he were warned of this trick1 could scarcely observe the marks4 ,it requires the lynx eyes of the sharper to distinguish the imperceptible shades4 ,we ought also to mention that the ,greeks have each their particular forte4 ,one who has an excellent eyesight1 and sensitive touch1 will make use of the marked cards2 another1 for other reasons1 will have recourse to sleight of hand4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,adherent1 ,,or ,,sliding ,,cards4 ,by the foregoing it will be observed1 that a ,greek is always ready to profit by the slightest differences in the cards2 but what my readers will scarcely find credible is1 that even a pack of new cards1 when first taken out of its envelope1 will furnish him with the means and signs of recognising the court from the plain cards4 ,this cheat is most practicable1 when the cards have not been kept in a perfectly dry place4 ,the ,greek1 in dealing1 presses his left thumb on the cards1 as if to disengage the upper ones1 and push them towards his right hand4 ,when the cards are damp1 the plain ones slide more easily than the court cards1 the reason for which1 is to be thus accounted for3-- ,that in manufacturing the court cards1 and in order to give a brightness to their colours1 a preparation of gum is used1 which is easily affected by the damp1 and becomes slightly sticky2 this is why they do not slip with such facility as the others4 ,the higher class of sharpers are much in the habit of using this trick1 which they perform with a sensitiveness of touch of astounding delicacy4 ,the lower order of ,greek is obliged to prepare the pack beforehand1 and rubs the court cards lightly over with soap1 and the others he paints with an extremely pure resin4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,hors ,d',,querre1 ,,or ,,slanting ,,cards4 ,i was once requested by a magistrate1 to examine some packs of cards which had been seized in a gambling-house1 and many of which had been used for the game of ,vingt-et-un4 ,i acceded to his request1 and it was only owing to my knowledge of mechanism1 that ,i was enabled to discover the trick1 by means of which the banquier of the gambling-table could distinguish1 whilst dealing1 whether the card he took from the top of the pack was higher or lower than a ten4 ,all the court cards and aces were cut on the slant at the top1 so as to prevent them being quite straight1 as in figure #bj1 but much less so in reality than is here represented4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bj4 ,to discover this very slight alteration it required a most practised eye2 but slight as it was1 it was sufficient for the sharper2 and1 according to these indications1 he either took the upper card1 if it were to his advantage1 or dealt to himself the lower one by the filage4,k ,in this manner he could also1 at the end of the deal1 retain or give himself the card he required4 ,,part ,v4 ,,the ,,point,,es1 ,,or ,,pricked ,,cards4 ,these marks are made by the ,greek to distinguish all the high cards4 ,with the point of a pin1 a little blunted1 he pricks the card in the corner at the side of the picture1 so as to produce a minute elevation on the upper surface4 ,some ,greeks improve on this trick1 by pricking between the two card-boards1 and afterwards pasting them together again4 ,in this way1 nothing is to be seen on the upper part of the card but a small roughness1 which1 should it ever be remarked1 would pass for a defect in the card-board4 ,others1 who are still more adroit1 instead of making any mark above1 do it from beneath1 and in this manner the mark is completely hidden by the painting1 and can only be discovered by the touch4 ,,part ,,vi4 ,,the ,,cards ,,morfil,,es1 ,,or ,,with ,,indented ,,edges4 ,this trick very much resembles the preceding one1 only that it is done in presence of the dupe4 ,each time that a card which will be favourable to his play1 passes through the hands of the ,greek1 he makes a small dent with his nail on the edge of it4 ,this mark is easily felt by the ,greek4 ,it must be confessed1 that those amongst the ,greeks who are adepts at this trick1 have an extreme delicacy of touch1 which they preserve by always wearing gloves1 when they are not playing at cards4 ,some of them even rub the ends of their fingers with pumice stone1 or dip them in certain acids1 which give extreme sensibility to the skin4 ,,part ,,vii4 ,,the ,,ondul,,es1 ,,or ,,wavy ,,cards4 ,the above marks1 or waves1 are also made whilst playing4 ,when the ,greek observes any cards1 which will suit him to perform the trick he is about to play1 he makes1 at the bottom of the left-hand corner1 a little fold1 or arch1 inwards4 ,this alteration1 be it ever so slight1 produces a kind of lustre on the card1 which the eye of the ,greek can immediately detect4 ,this trick is generally employed in cheating at ,piquet4 ,the ,greek1 in this way1 marks all the aces and high cards in any of the suits4 ,with certain arts of legerdemain1 which ,i have before alluded to1 he can so arrange all1 or part1 of his hand1 that no play of his adversary1 be it ever so good1 could stand against it4 ,,part ,,viii4 ,,the ,,tarot,,es1 ,,or ,,figured ,,or ,,checquered ,,cards4 ,it often happens that1 in packs of playing-cards1 the backs of which are ornamented with figures and designs1 these ornaments are not placed exactly in the same spot on each card4 ,if examined attentively1 it will be seen1 that the designs are not always the same distance from the edge of the card4 ,the manufacturer himself1 and players in general1 pay little attention to these irregularities1 but the ,greek turns them to account1 and makes them useful in his tricks4 ,by the time the cards have been dealt two or three times round1 he can distinguish many of them4 ,sharpers are themselves often the manufacturers of their own cards1 and can1 therefore1 arrange and place their designs where they please4 ,for instance1 let us suppose that the design consists of a series of lozenges1 placed one above the other4 ,the ,greek would so arrange them that1 at the edge of the card1 the lozenge should be entire for the ace4 ,then1 as it approaches the edge1 it is cut in half for the queen1 quarterly for the king1 and three-quarters for the knave4 ,in the same way1 on the upper side of the card1 the lozenges1 by similar arrangements1 would point out the spades1 hearts1 clubs1 or diamonds1 and also show the principal cards in the game of ,piquet4 ,all this would seem to be the effect of chance1 and no one could assert that there was anything fraudulent4 ,,part ,,ix4 ,,the ,,marked1 ,,or ,,spotted ,,cards4 ,this trick of marking cards1 is equal to any of the most refined abbreviations used in stenography1 as here1 by the aid of a single spot1 any one of the thirty-two cards in the game of ,piquet may be known4 ,we will imagine1 for example1 a design formed of spots1 or some other device1 arranged symmetrically1 as these sorts of patterns usually are4 ,for instance1 as in figure #ba4 ,the first large spot1 beginning from the top of the card1 on the left hand1 will represent a heart2 the second1 in descending1 a diamond1 the third a club1 and the fourth a spade4 ,now1 if1 by the side of any of these1 another spot is added1 it will immediately serve to show what card it is4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ba4 ,the mark should be placed near one of the original spots1 as shown below in figure #bb1 which1 when placed at the top1 shows it is an ace2 going round to the right of it1 the next spot would be a king1 the third spot a queen1 the fourth a knave1 and so on to the seven4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bb4 ,it must be clearly understood that only one spot is to be made1 as in figure #ba1 where that which is added to the third spot1 would 7according to the rules ,i have laid down71 mark the eight of clubs4 ,after these explanations1 ,i feel convinced1 my reader has already made up his mind1 never again to play with cards on which there are devices4 ,if these are the sort of tricks one is subject to1 exclaims he1 ,i'll take care that ,i never play with anything but plain cards again4 ,unfortunately1 even these can be tampered with1 as ,i have already shown in speaking of tinted cards2 of which ,i will now give another proof4 ,in the year #ahdi1 the judge of the ,criminal ,court of the ,seine1 begged me to examine a hundred and fifty packs of cards1 which were supposed to have been tampered with4 ,they were found in the possession of a man1 whose antecedents were far from being as pure1 as the colour of his cards4 ,the cards were in fact all white1 and had hitherto defied the most minute inspection4 ,it was impossible for the most practised eye to discover1 that they had been altered or marked in any way4 ,they seemed all of the best quality4 ,i spent nearly a fortnight in examining 7not only with my naked eye1 but with a strong magnifying glass7 the card board1 the shape1 and the almost imperceptible shades1 of each of these one hundred and fifty packs of cards4 ,i could detect nothing2 and tired out1 ,i was going to give the same opinion as the experts who had previously examined them4 ,there is certainly nothing wrong with these cards1 exclaimed ,i1 one evening1 in a pettish tone1 throwing the pack from me across the table4 ,all at once1 on the shining back of one of the cards1 near one of the corners1 ,i thought ,i saw a dull-looking spot1 which had before escaped me4 ,on looking close at it1 it disappeared2 but strange to say1 as ,i went far off from it1 it re-appeared4 ,how glad ,i am1 cried ,i aloud1 enthusiastically4 ,now ,i see what it is4 ,it's all right4 ,this then is the mark6 and following the rules1 used by sharpers1 ,i satisfied myself1 that on every card there was the same spot1 which1 being placed in various parts1 were distinctive signs of the card and the suit4 ,the following was the way the thing was done4 ,we must imagine the cards divided into eight divisions perpendicularly1 and four horizontally1 as in figure #bc4 ,the former will indicate the value of the card1 the latter the suit4 ,the mark is placed where each of these divisions intersect one another4 ,the above is the way the cheat is performed1 and practice does the rest4 ,i must be allowed to decline mentioning the method1 by which these mysterious marks are made on the cards4 ,my object being1 as ,i have already stated1 more than once1 to expose the tricks of sharpers1 but not to show how they are done4 ,suffice it to say1 that when looked at closely1 these spots are invisible2 but when viewed from afar1 the reflection of a strong light makes the card shine1 but leaves the spot dull4 ,at first sight1 it would seem a difficult task to distinguish one card from another1 by an isolated spot on the back of it4 ,however1 if my readers will attend to what ,i have told them1 and look at the example given in figure #bc1 they will see that it does not belong to the second1 nor the fourth perpendicular division2 and by the same rule1 they will observe1 that the spot is in the second horizontal division1 and represents1 therefore1 the queen of diamonds4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bc4 ,from all this1 it is evident that a swindler plays and stakes--,i will not say his honour1 but his liberty1 against fortune2 and that1 by reason of the importance of the stake1 he ought to have devoted the most serious attention to an art1 on which all his future depends4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,chaplet1 ,,or ,,rosary4 ,the rosary is a particular arrangement of the cards1 according to certain words in a sentence1 which is learnt by heart4 ,in other words1 it is a sort of mnemonics1 or artificial memory1 to enable people to cheat at play4 ,there are several sorts of chapelets1 more or less ingenious4 ,the best are those which recall to one's mind a feeling1 a thought1 or even only an amusing combination4 ,one of the oldest rosaries consists of two ,latin verses1 every word in each of which represents one of the fifty-two cards of a pack-- ,unus1 quinque1 novem1 famulus1 sex1 quatuor1 duo1 ,rex1 septem1 octo1 foemina1 trina1 decem2 which may be translated thus3 ,ace1 five1 nine1 knave1 six1 four1 two1 ,king1 seven1 eight1 queen1 three1 ten4 ,these thirteen cards are also arranged according to their suits1 namely--spades1 hearts1 clubs1 diamonds1 as follows3 #a4 ,unus 7ace7 of spades1 #b4 ,quinque 7five7 of hearts1 #c4 ,novem 7nine7 of clubs1 #d4 ,famulus 7knave7 of diamonds1 #e4 ,sex 7six7 of spades1 and so on1 by following the words of the rosary and the suit1 to the last card4 ,i will now give a sentence or rosary1 for the thirty-two cards used in the game of ,piquet-- ,le ,roi dix-huit ne valait pas ses dames2 ,or-- ,le ,roi1 dix1 huit1 neuf1 valet1 as1 sept1 dame4 ,which means-- ,the king1 ten1 eight1 nine1 knave1 ace1 seven1 queen4 ,in this1 as well as in the preceding example1 the cards are classed according to their suits1 as above described2 only1 at the end of the rosary after the queen1 instead of putting the suit which follows1 for the king which comes after1 they arrange so that the king and queen should be of the same suit4 ,were this not done1 one would require four kings of spades1 four tens of hearts1 c41 c4 ,the following example will show what ,i mean3 ,,arrangement ,,of ,a ,,rosary ,,of ,,thirty-,,two ,,cards3 #a4 ,the king of spades4 #b4 ,the ten of hearts4 #c4 ,the eight of clubs4 #d4 ,the nine of diamonds4 #e4 ,the knave of spades4 #f4 ,the ace of hearts4 #g4 ,the seven of clubs4 #h4 ,the queen of diamonds4 #i4 ,the king of diamonds4 #aj4 ,the ten of spades4 #aa4 ,the eight of hearts4 #ab4 ,the nine of clubs4 #ac4 ,the knave of diamonds4 #ad4 ,the ace of spades4 #ae4 ,the seven of hearts4 #af4 ,the queen of clubs4 #ag4 ,the king of clubs4 #ah4 ,the ten of diamonds4 #ai4 ,the eight of spades4 #bj4 ,the nine of hearts4 #ba4 ,the knave of clubs4 #bb4 ,the ace of diamonds4 #bc4 ,the seven of spades4 #bd4 ,the queen of hearts4 #be4 ,the king of hearts4 #bf4 ,the ten of clubs4 #bg4 ,the eight of diamonds4 #bh4 ,the nine of spades4 #bi4 ,the knave of hearts4 #cj4 ,the ace of clubs4 #ca4 ,the seven of diamonds4 #cb4 ,the queen of spades4 ,it must be remembered that1 when the cards are thus arranged1 however often the pack is cut1 the order of the cards remains the same4 ,when a ,greek has substituted a pack of cards1 arranged chapelet for another1 and has made a false shuffle which does not alter them1 he will easily know what cards his adversary holds1 by looking at his own hand4 ,for example at cart1 if he holds-- ,the eight of hearts1 ,the nine of clubs1 ,the queen of clubs1 ,the king of clubs1 ,the ten of diamonds2 ,he will know that his adversary has-- ,the king of diamonds1 ,the ten of spades1 ,the knave of diamonds1 ,the ace of spades1 ,the seven of hearts4 ,the turn-up card will be the eight of spades2 and knowing all the other cards which follow after this1 he can demand or refuse them1 as he judges best4 ,it is1 at the games of ,vingt-et-un1 ,baccarat1 and ,lansquenet1 that this cheating is the most dangerous1 as well as the most easily accomplished4 ,the packs are changed beforehand1 and even though they may be really properly shuffled1 it will be some time before the order of the cards is completely altered4 ,some few cards may be displaced1 but the ,greek manages to play on1 and to know the card which is coming1 by having seen the one which precedes it4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,ring ,,for ,,marking4 ,the ,greek sometimes carries his trickery even into the domains of science2 of which the instrument ,i am about to describe is a proof4 ,if this jewel had not been invented for the sole purpose of cheating1 one would have been tempted to admire it4 ,the ring1 shown in figure #bd1 is known by the name of a trpan4 ,it is hollow1 and forms a kind of reservoir1 which is filled with very liquid ink4 ,this liquid would escape by a small opening1 at the point ,a1 but that the capillary attraction retains the ink at its mouth4 ,in short1 it is a kind of pen with a reservoir4 ,as this point is hidden in the inside of the hand1 the ,greek can1 at any moment1 mark the cards he pleases1 with an almost imperceptible spot1 before the very eyes of his adversary4 ,these spots can1 as ,i have before explained1 by the manner in which they are placed1 mark particular cards4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bd4 ,the ,greek also makes use of this instrument to cheat at dominoes4 ,for this purpose1 the ring is a very massive one1 and the point alluded to is made of steel1 and very sharp4 ,it is easy to understand1 that when the ,greek has the dominoes in his hands1 in moving them about on the table1 he can put a mark on them1 so as to know them again4 ,the point of the ring1 fine as it is1 is blunted1 so that the marks it makes are so light and shining1 as to awaken no suspicion1 and it is only to the eyes of the sharper1 who has made them1 that they are visible4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,reflecting ,,snuff-,,box4 ,as ,i am on the subject of curiosities of art1 here is another1 which is also very clever4 ,it is difficult to believe that a snuff-box can be made an instrument for cheating4 ,the ,greek1 when placing himself at the table to play1 puts down a snuff-box1 on the lid of which is a small medallion of the size of a franc1 enclosing a miniature4 ,it is the portrait of a lady exquisitely painted4 ,the eyes of the players naturally turn to this object1 and they sometimes even take it up to admire1 or display it to their friends4 ,when the game has begun1 the ,greek takes a pinch of snuff1 which gives him the opportunity of drawing the box towards him4 ,but1 at the same time1 he presses an invisible spring1 which withdraws the portrait1 and in its place out comes a convex glass1 which is of the greatest utility to him2 for1 when he is dealing1 this mirror being underneath the cards which he deals to his adversary1 he has only to look in it to see the reflection of the cards he is giving4 ,during the evening1 the ,greek makes the medallion return1 and offers a pinch of snuff to his victims4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,application ,,of ,,the ,,preceding ,,principles4 ,arrangement of the pack--,coups de piquet--,how to repique and capot an adversary--,how to repique and capot an adversary although he has shuffled the cards--,abstraction and substitution of cards--,coup d'cart--,jeu de rgle--,lansquenet--,baccarat--,vingt-et- un1 c4 c4 ,,arrangement ,,of ,,the ,,pack4 ,it is a well-known fact that1 by the aid of the principles which ,i have herein laid down1 a clever ,greek will gain at every game1 by giving himself the cards which are favourable to his interest4 ,but it must not be believed1 that these sharpers are so unskilful as to cheat always by sleight of hand4 ,they would very soon be discovered4 ,these intelligent rogues husband their resources1 and act with prudence4 ,they usually only deal themselves what is called a jeu de rgle1 or hand which is sure of making three tricks2 and their adroitness and tact1 coupled with this slight advantage1 is sufficient to ensure to them the favours of fortune4 ,in most cases1 the ,greek only uses his arts according to the circumstances required4 ,the more able player he is1 the less is it necessary to call cheating to his aid4 ,if he finds he has an indifferent player for his opponent1 he only plays the regular game1 and reserves his rogueries for another occasion4 ,but1 as it often happens that the proverb1 a new hand always wins1 is verified1 he takes care to be on the defensive1 and to use his weapons if required4 ,for this reason1 it is quite impossible to give an exact definition of the play of a ,greek2 but as ,i am anxious to enlighten my readers on his marvellous powers1 ,i will just give one example of the haute cole1 or high school1 as they say at the ,cirque ,olympique 7the ,astley's of ,paris74 ,it is the greatest coup that it is possible to make at piquet4 ,in this trick1 which is done in the presence of his adversary1 and without any previous preparation1 the ,greek can win the game with a first hand1 by a hundred and sixty-three points4,l ,in perusing the following details of the different manipulations1 which serve as the basis of all sorts of cheating at games of cards1 ,i hope my readers will take this warning1 which is the real purpose of my work3--that it is dangerous to hazard large sums of money on chances which can be so easily turned against them4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,coup ,,de ,,piquet4 ,how to ,repique and ,capot one's ,adversary4 ,the trick ,i am about to describe1 dates from the last century4 ,it was the invention of a juggler named ,comus1 who performed it with his eyes bandaged4 ,from this interesting combination1 have originated all the other coups de piquet1 so often displayed by jugglers4 ,i shall here give a description of how it is done1 as it will make what ,i have mentioned in the preceding chapter1 more easy to understand4 ,in taking up the pack of cards1 the juggler1 with a pretended awkwardness1 shuffles the cards in such a manner1 that many of them are turned face to face4 ,this enables him1 under the pretext of turning them the right way about1 to select and place at the bottom of the pack a sequence of eight cards in any suit1 a king and three aces4 ,once in possession of these twelve cards1 he slightly bends the corners1 which leaves a ridge that he can easily discern4 7,see part vii41 chapter ix47 ,he then hands the cards to his adversary to shuffle4 ,whilst this is being done he has his eyes bandaged with a handkerchief1 which1 however1 does not prevent his seeing through the interstices caused by the projection of his nose4 ,he then takes back the pack1 and whilst pretending to shuffle1 he finds the marked cards1 and places them where he wishes1 as will be explained in the following part4 ,some jugglers1 instead of bending the cards1 with the greatest sang froid1 pass the twelve cards above alluded to1 underneath the others1 and then pretend to shuffle4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,coup ,,de ,,piquet4 ,how the ,greek is enabled to ,repique and ,capot his ,adversary1 although he has ,shuffled the ,cards4 ,as ,i am addressing those who are supposed to know piquet1 ,i need enter into no details about that game4 ,in playing the first hand1 the ,greek must secure a sixime-major 7or sequence of six cards from the ace downwards1 which counts sixteen71 a quatorze of aces 7the four aces71 and a quatorze of kings 7the four kings71 as seen by the table below3-- #a4 ,the ace of spades4 #b4 ,the king of spades4 #c4 ,the queen of spades4 #d4 ,the knave of spades4 #e4 ,the ten of spades4 #f4 ,the nine of spades4 #g4 ,the ace of hearts4 #h4 ,the ace of diamonds4 #i4 ,the ace of clubs4 #aj4 ,the king of hearts4 #aa4 ,the king of diamonds4 #ab4 ,the king of clubs4 ,his adversary must be the dealer1 as it is in playing the first hand1 that the selection of these twelve cards is managed4 ,this difficult trick is done in the following manner4 ,it is customary1 before beginning to play1 for each person to cut for the deal4 ,the ,greek1 in mixing the cards1 with a rapid glance1 seeks for an ace1 which he passes under the pack1 and putting in practice the principles which ,i have pointed out in the first chapter1 part #e1 figure #i1 he makes the bridge4 ,let us see1 exclaims he1 putting the pack on the table1 who shall deal8 ,he cuts first himself1 at the bridge where the ace 7the highest card in cutting at piquet7 is placed1 and as it does not often happen that his opponent cuts another ace--,you shall deal1 says he1 we will make the game one hundred and fifty points4 ,the first hand is not of much importance2 the ,greek leaves to chance the distribution of the cards4 ,he well knows that his adversary will not gain the game in one hand2 he1 therefore1 only thinks of making himself master of the cards before mentioned4 ,twelve cards are dealt to him by his adversary1 and five others are in reserve for him in the talon4 ,it is most probable that1 out of these seventeen cards1 he will find some of the number mentioned in the preceding list4 ,he must1 at all hazards1 prevent those cards getting into his opponent's hands1 and must keep them near him for the following hand4 ,consequently1 he discards the weakest cards in his hand1 and makes a little heap of them on his right hand1 on which he places successively1 and without concealment1 all the aces1 kings1 and spades1 he can get from his adversary4 ,we will imagine that1 by the time the hand is played1 he has only been able to obtain six of the cards he wants4 ,to secure the other six1 still in the pack1 he has recourse to the following manoeuvre4 ,whilst playing1 he has intentionally left all the tricks he has gained face upwards2 and1 as it is his turn to deal1 he does the same thing with those of his adversary4 ,profiting by the moment when the latter is marking his points1 in taking up the pack1 the ,greek selects the cards required1 and places them underneath with those which he has already secured4 ,if my readers are not au fait at tricks of cards1 they will doubtless find the explanation ,i have given1 both tedious and difficult of comprehension4 ,it is really nothing2 it resembles those tricks of sleight of hand1 which require long explanations to make a very short operation understood4 ,but that is not the question2 my sole wish being to make myself understood1 which has perhaps caused me to be rather prolix4 ,the ,greek having1 in the twinkling of an eye1 put the twelve cards he wanted at the bottom of the pack1 then places them1 so that they will all return to him in the deal1 and whilst pretending to shuffle the cards1 he puts alternately on the pack1 #a4 ,three cards from the bottom4 #b4 ,three indifferent cards taken from the middle of the pack4 #c4 ,three cards from the bottom4 #d4 ,three indifferent cards4 #e4 ,three cards from the bottom4 #f4 ,three indifferent cards4 ,after which1 a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and a deal of three at a time4 ,it will be seen that1 out of the twelve cards which were placed under the pack1 nine must have come back to the ,greek in the course of the deal2 the three others come to him in the exchange4 ,he therefore has in his hand3 #a4 ,a sixime-major in spades1 #b4 ,a quatorze of aces1 #c4 ,a quatorze of kings3 with which he gains the game by capoting his adversary4 ,in this hand1 then1 he has made a hundred and sixty-three points4 ,this selection of cards1 and their arrangement1 is a specimen of what can be done by cheating2 however1 a ,greek usually will not venture to do it on so large a scale2 but contents himself with a quatorze of aces or kings1 or even a simple quint4 ,the selection of these cards is simple and easy1 compared with the former trick4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,coup ,,de ,,piquet4 ,abstraction and ,substitution of ,cards4 ,in former days1 it was the fashion at piquet1 when the deal was finished1 to divide the talon into two unequal packets1 and place them one on the top of the other1 in the shape of a cross4 ,now1 however1 these eight cards are left in one packet4 ,this new fashion has given rise to a fresh roguery1 which1 though a very audacious one1 is no less difficult to discover1 where the parties are not cognisant of it4 ,once known1 it is quite another thing4 ,this rascality is executed in the following manner3 ,the sharper1 in dealing1 gives himself three cards too many4 ,he then intentionally places the talon a little nearer to himself than to his adversary4 ,the latter1 not thinking about it1 does not perceive that his opponent has taken extra cards1 being at that moment as much occupied with taking up and sorting his cards1 as with the discard4 ,whilst his adversary is thus occupied1 the sharper hastily takes the three worst cards in his hand1 and conveys them by a method ,i have pointed out1 and places them on the talon1 pushing it at the same time1 as if to place it nearer to his antagonist4 ,this movement is so natural1 that the artifice is completely concealed4 ,thus the ,greek is not only relieved of his three bad cards1 but he passes them on to his adversary1 so that he gains an advantage in more ways than one4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,coup ,d',,cart4 ,the ,king and the ,vole4 ,before commencing this article on cart1 ,i wish to point out an error very generally diffused among players4 ,when speaking of a swindler1 people are apt to say1 ,he is a man who turns up the king whenever he pleases4 ,this is a decided error4 ,a ,greek1 if he is clever1 will never do anything so imprudent4 ,he knows very well that1 by turning up a king too often1 he arouses suspicion1 and only marks one point2 whereas1 by keeping it in his own hand1 he enjoys the advantage of marking two4 ,in the same way1 a sharper of experience will never deal himself so good a hand as that which ,i am about to describe1 because such an assemblage of trumps would create doubts in the mind of his opponent4 ,the following hand must1 therefore1 only be regarded as an example1 of what can be done by tricking at cart4 ,,arrangement ,,of ,,the ,,pack4 ,the ,greek1 whilst shuffling the cards with apparent indifference1 has quietly introduced underneath the pack a sixime-major1 or sequence of six cards from the king 7the highest card at cart7 downwards4 ,this done1 nothing is easier than for him to arrange the cards1 so that they will fall to him in the deal4 ,to effect this1 while pretending to shuffle1 he puts alternately on the pack-- #a4 ,four cards from beneath 7good74 #b4 ,three cards from the middle 7bad74 #c4 ,two cards from beneath 7good74 #d4 ,two cards from the middle 7bad74 ,this performance ended1 he makes a false cut1 as described in the first chapter1 and deals4 ,contrary to his principles1 he will turn up the king1 and hold in his own hand a sequence from the queen of trumps downwards4 ,,part ,v4 ,a ,,jeu ,,de ,r,,gle4,m ,from the preceding tricks1 it will be seen that it is necessary for the ,greek1 before he begins playing1 to put a certain number of cards into the pack1 both at the top and underneath1 all of which he arranges in readiness to be dealt to him4 ,this he does whilst pretending to shuffle them1 and almost always in the midst of an animated conversation about the hand which has just been played4 ,all this he performs so naturally that it is never observed4 ,a sharper1 who understands his business1 never amuses himself with essaying tours de force1 but is content with a few good cards1 of which he knows how to make the best use4 ,his manner of acting under such circumstances is very simple4 ,let us suppose that the first hand has been played out1 and it is now the ,greek's turn to deal4 ,he gathers up1 as usual1 the eleven cards which are on the table2 but1 in so doing1 he1 with great dexterity1 separates all the cards of one suit1 and places them on the talon1 the rest he puts underneath4 ,suppose the cards chosen by him are the following3-- #a4 ,the king of hearts4 #b4 ,the ace of hearts4 #c4 ,the ten of hearts4 #d4 ,the seven of hearts4 ,in order that the last of these cards may be turned up1 and that the three others may be in his own hand1 he need only put above them the first cards that come1 to make the number eleven1 which can be easily done whilst pretending to shuffle4 ,after which1 he makes a false cut1 by means of the ,bridge1 or any other of the methods given in the first chapter1 and deals4 ,the ,greek now holds in his own hand the king1 ace1 and ten of hearts4 ,as to the other two cards he trusts to chance1 not caring much whether they are good or bad4 ,should you have any doubts about the honesty of your adversary1 the way to detect this cheat is to watch the cards which are taken up1 and especially to observe whether those cards1 which have been used in a previous hand1 do not appear again in his play4 ,,part ,,vi4 ,,lansquenet4 ,the ,dpt de ,portes4 ,this trick is about the most simple and dangerous that ,i have yet described1 and the performance of it is unfortunately very easy4 ,the ,greek must place on the pack1 at the moment when he is dealer1 a series of cards1 called portes1 so as to secure beforehand several refaits4 ,these portes are composed of ten cards1 and are arranged1 for example1 as follows3-- #a4 ,queen4 #b4 ,queen4 #c4 ,ten4 #d4 ,seven4 #e4 ,ten4 #f4 ,nine4 #g4 ,nine4 #h4 ,ace4 #i4 ,eight4 #aj4 ,ace4 ,when this porte is exhausted1 the ,greek passes on the cards4 ,these cards are placed in such a manner about the sharper1 as to allow him to get at them with ease4 ,to show you how this is done1 ,i must strip my sharper of his coat4 ,it will be seen that1 in the waistcoat of the figure on the next page1 there are two pockets1 called costires1 which are made on the left side4 ,when it is his turn to deal1 he leans forward on the table1 and1 in so doing1 brings his hand as near as possible to his portes2 thus he can1 when he pleases1 take them out1 as is shown in the fourth chapter1 and put them on the pack4 ,the ,greek having his coat buttoned at the top1 this proceeding is prevented from being seen1 and the opening at the bottom enables him to put his hand inside1 without it being noticed4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #be4 ,some ,greeks are expert enough to abstract several refaits from the pack itself1 and put them into their side-pockets in readiness for their next hand4 ,others keep them hidden in their hand1 and await an opportune moment for replacing them on the pack4 ,so that1 in this manner1 there are never more cards in a pack than there ought to be4 ,,part ,,vii4 ,,on ,,games ,,with ,,four ,,players4 ,it may be imagined1 that in a game where there are four people playing1 cheating is impracticable1 since the cards the sharper ought to deal1 are collected and shuffled by another person4 ,the reader may remember that in one of the chapters1 at the beginning of this work1 ,i have given him a concise explanation of this very subject4 ,this explanation ,i will now complete4 ,at the game of ,bouillotte1 for example1 a ,greek makes an agreement with an accomplice1 whom he places near him4 ,this accomplice1 while collecting and shuffling the cards1 arranges them for the following hand4 ,the trick will cause no suspicion2 for it is not to the ,greek who deals the cards1 but to his confederate1 that the good hand comes4 ,besides1 these gentlemen always pretend to be unacquainted with each other4 ,there are numerous other tricks in which no second party is required1 and which are all contained in the general rules ,i have laid down4 99 99 99 99 99 ,again1 ,i have sometimes heard it observed1 that a ,greek cannot exercise his vocation in the higher class of clubs1 as they are so strictly watched4 ,he will certainly not venture1 in these runions1 in the midst of a crowd of lookers on1 all more or less interested in the game1 to sauter la coupe1 filer la carte1 c41 c4 ,but1 can he not have recourse to other deceptions1 where there is no danger of discovery8 ,the marked cards1 for example3 can he not bribe a servant1 by offering him half the profits1 to let him have the packs of cards before giving them to the players8 ,the telegraph also is equally available1 even before the most critical observers4 ,the ,greek of fashionable life has sufficient tact and finesse to cope with any situation1 however difficult1 in which he may be placed2 and when he makes up his mind to cheat1 he generally succeeds4 ,if he does not venture on sleight of hand in public1 he makes use of it in small parties1 where the players are not conspicuous for their intelligence and perspicacity4 ,far be it from me to say1 that wherever there are players1 there must be rogues2 on the contrary1 ,i believe that in many clubs such a character is unknown2 still1 that is no reason that sooner or later a ,greek might not gain entrance there1 and exercise his infamous vocation4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,entertaining ,,tricks4 ,piquet--cart--,baccarat--,impriale--,wh ist--,bouillotte-- ,bzigue--c41 c4 ,in the former chapter ,i have given various examples of serious cheats performed by ,greeks4 ,i shall now present to my readers1 a series of what may be termed entertaining tricks2 they are done in such a way that a juggler may1 whilst amusing his spectators1 show them how easily they may be cheated at every game4 ,let us go back to the preceding coup de piquet1 which we will now perform in a more agreeable manner4 ,we will suppose the juggler to have in his hand-- #a4 ,a sixime of spades4 #b4 ,a quatorze of aces4 #c4 ,a quatorze of kings4 ,his adversary is the elder hand2 it is for him to call2 he announces a sixime from the queen2 for1 as he has the chance of a sequence in three suits1 it is most probable that he will succeed with one4 ,six cards1 says he4 ,what do they count8 ,fifty-four4 ,that's not good4 ,is that all you have to declare8 ,yes2 for it is not likely that my three queens will turn out valueless4 ,indeed6 ,you then spread your sixime major on the table1 and say--sixteen and six make twenty-two2 and quatorze of kings 7you show them7 ninety-six2 and quatorze of aces1 a hundred and ten4 ,these two quatorzes have all this time been hidden in your left hand4 ,here ,i must explain1 par parenthse1 something which it will be necessary for my readers to know1 so as to understand what follows4 ,while continuing the counting of this coup de piquet1 we will secretly prepare a coup d'cart1 which we will execute after this game4 ,let us take up the counting where we left off4 ,a hundred and ten1 we have said4 ,a hundred and eleven1 you say1 taking up the nine of spades of your sixime1 and putting it on one side--a hundred and twelve1 putting the ten on it2 and1 continuing your calculation1 you do the same with the other four cards2 with this difference1 that when you come to the king1 you put the ace before him1 so that he may be the last card in the pack4 ,in finishing your counting1 you put the three kings and the three aces on these six cards1 which brings it to a hundred and twenty-three4 ,this1 with forty for the capot1 makes a hundred and sixty-three4 ,the pack not being played out1 the cards have not been shuffled1 and it is easy1 with the slight preparation ,i have just pointed out1 to arrange the following coup4 ,,part ,i4 ,,cart4 ,an ,amusing ,game at cart4 ,according to the arrangement of the cards mentioned in the preceding trick1 you have in hand six spades1 three kings1 and three aces1 which you put on the pack4 ,you then take up1 with apparent indifference1 the three cards of your discard1 which you have left close to yourself1 and place them under the two first cards2 then1 by a false shuffle1 you pass two of the undermost cards of the pack to the top4 ,this manoeuvre arranges the cards in the following manner3 ,two indifferent cards4 ,two spades4 ,three indifferent cards4 ,four spades--one of which is a king1 and will serve as the turn-up card4 ,afterwards come the three kings and three aces4 ,this operation is performed whilst a conversation is being carried on1 and without your having declared your intention to continue playing2 then you place the pack on the table4 ,you see1 say you1 the danger of playing at cards4 ,a sharper would not make a joke of it1 and1 with such chances at his disposal1 he would soon see the bottom of your purse4 ,by the bye1 do you know another game for two to play at8 cart1 for instance8 ,yes2 ,i do4 ,oh6 very well6 ,then let us play a game at cart4 ,we take the pack already prepared2 we make a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and we deal the cards4 ,i am going to turn up the king1 you say4 ,here he is2 and ,i have a handful of trumps4 ,you throw down the five trumps in succession on the table1 saying1 ,trump1 trump1 c41 c4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,continuation ,,of ,,the ,,game4 ,another ,amusing ,trick4 ,the vole and the king4 ,i mark three2 it is your turn to deal1 presenting the pack to your adversary2 and1 at the same time1 drawing out five or six cards which you keep hidden in your hand1 according to the principles laid down in the third chapter1 figure #ac4 ,the adversary shuffles the cards1 and1 that he shall not notice the diminution of the pack1 you distract his attention by an animated conversation4 ,something in this style4 ,have you any knowledge of sleight of hand8 ,i don't think so4 ,i am sorry for it1 as ,i would have taught you a trick4 ,oh6 that's of no consequence2 show it to me all the same4 ,with pleasure4 ,but you must first practice a whole year to sauter la coupe1 c41 c4 ,your vis--vis then hands the cards to you to cut1 and deals4 ,taking up your cards1 you pass in underneath1 those you had secreted1 being careful to press them very forcibly one against the other4 ,ah6 ,well1 what game did you say we were to play at8 ,at cart2 ,i thought you said at cart4 ,then why do you give me so many cards8 spreading out the cards side by side4 ,a false deal4 ,you've lost your deal1 you exclaim1 at the same time passing with a rapid glance all the cards in review before you4 ,this hasty glance1 rapid as it is1 has been long enough to show you1 out of these eleven or twelve cards1 which is the dominant suit4 ,you select four of them1 and1 as you ought to recollect1 the three kings and three aces were amongst them4 ,to the four above-mentioned you add the king and the ace of hearts1 and place them all together at the bottom of the pack2 then1 by an operation similar to that described for piquet1 whilst pretending to shuffle1 you put on the top of the pack-- #a4 ,four cards from the bottom4 #b4 ,three indifferent cards from the middle4 #c4 ,two cards from the bottom4 #d4 ,two indifferent cards4 ,the pack is accordingly thus arranged for playing4 ,eleven prepared cards4 ,that is to say-- #a4 ,two chance cards4 #b4 ,two hearts4 #c4 ,three chance cards4 #d4 ,three hearts4 #e4 ,a heart1 as the turn-up card4 ,you make a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and then proceed to deal4 ,i turned up the king just now1 you observe1 in finishing the deal4 ,this time ,i shall keep it in my own hand4 ,you mark the king1 and make the point1 which wins the game4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,coup ,d',,cart4 ,in which your ,adversary is made to ,win4 ,thus1 as ,i have just explained1 in collecting the cards1 you select a sixime-major in whichever suit you please1 put it at the bottom of the pack1 and add in succession the following3 #a4 ,one card from the bottom4 #b4 ,three chance cards from the middle4 #c4 ,three cards from the bottom4 #d4 ,two chance cards from the middle4 #e4 ,two cards from the bottom4 ,a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and then deal first two1 then three4 ,in arranging your cards you must not let the king be the turn-up card4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,a ,,game ,,at ,,cart4 ,in which the ,adversary loses a ,bet he has made1 judging from what he has already seen of the ,hand of the ,dealer4 ,put on the top of the pack the following eleven cards3 #a4 ,the queen of hearts4 #b4 ,the ace of hearts4 #c4 ,the king of hearts4 #d4 ,the knave of hearts4 #e4 ,the ten of hearts4 #f4 ,the nine of hearts4 #g4 ,the king of diamonds4 #h4 ,the seven of hearts4 #i4 ,the seven of clubs4 #aj4 ,the seven of spades4 #aa4 ,the eight of hearts4 ,then make a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and deal by twos and threes4 ,the cards by this manoeuvre will be thus divided3 ,,the ,,dealer4 ,the king of hearts4 ,the knave of hearts4 ,the seven of hearts4 ,the seven of spades4 ,the seven of clubs4 ,,the ,,adversary4 ,the queen of hearts4 ,the ace of hearts4 ,the ten of hearts4 ,the nine of hearts4 ,the king of diamonds4 ,the turn-up card is the eight of hearts4 ,oh6 good ,heavens6 you exclaim1 laying down your trio of sevens on the table1 what dreadful cards6 ,but you are careful not to display the king and knave of hearts4 ,but1 notwithstanding 7you continue71 ,i have such luck1 that even with this bad hand ,i may win the game after all4 ,your adversary1 knowing the splendid hand he holds1 falls into the trap1 and bets largely that he will make the point4 ,he plays with confidence1 but let him play as he will1 he cannot help losing three tricks1 as two of his trumps must fall to your small cards1 and your seven of trumps will prevent his winning with the king of diamonds4 ,you still have in your hand what is vulgarly called the fourchette1 or alternate cards1 to win the game with4 ,,part ,v4 ,,baccarat4 ,a ,game of ,baccarat which is advantageous to the ,banquier4 ,you place at the bottom of the pack1 sixteen cards in the following order3 #a4 ,a nine4 #b4 ,a court card4 #c4 ,a nine4 #d4 ,a court card4 #e4 ,a nine4 #f4 ,a court card4 #g4 ,a nine4 #h4 ,a court card4 #i4 ,an eight4 #aj4 ,an ace4 #aa4 ,an eight4 #ab4 ,an ace4 #ac4 ,an eight4 #ad4 ,an ace4 #ae4 ,an eight4 #af4 ,an ace4 ,,classification4 ,place in succession on the top of the pack1 sixteen times consecutively3 #a4 ,the last card4 #b4 ,two chance cards4 #c4 ,the last4 #d4 ,two chance cards1 and so on4 ,a false cut1 and deal one card at a time4 ,the banquier will have1 from the beginning1 at each coup1 nine or nineteen2 and will in this way win on all sides4 ,this example of recreative cheating at baccarat1 is only given as a specimen4 ,a ,greek would fear to win in this way1 on so large a scale1 and especially by these coups d'emble4 ,,part ,,vi4 ,,imp,,riale4 ,a ,capot at ,impriale4 ,put at the bottom of the pack the following thirteen cards3 #a4 ,three kings4 #b4 ,three queens4 #c4 ,a sixime major in hearts4 #d4 ,a seven of hearts1 as the turn-up card4 ,,classification4 ,put in succession at the top of the pack3 #a4 ,the four last cards4 #b4 ,three chance cards4 #c4 ,the three last cards4 #d4 ,three chance cards4 #e4 ,the three last cards4 #f4 ,three chance cards4 #g4 ,three last cards4 #h4 ,three chance cards4 ,after which a false cut1 and deal three cards at a time4 ,the dealer will have in his hand3 #a4 ,an impriale of kings4 #b4 ,an impriale of queens4 #c4 ,an impriale for the sixime4 ,and when he has finished the hand1 he will1 besides the above1 have two other impriales for the twelve tricks1 which will give him the game4 ,,part ,,vii4 ,,whist4 ,a ,game at ,whist in which you gain every ,trick4 ,place on the top of the pack twelve cards of the same suit1 and arrange them with a false shuffle1 by the following operations3 #ast4 ,having taken the thirteen cards in your right hand1 put the last one on the top of the packet of the thirty-nine others1 which you hold in your left hand4 #bnd4 ,then immediately slide that card1 with the three others which follow1 on the packet in your right hand4 #crd4 ,afterwards1 again slide the last of this packet on the top of those in your left hand1 and proceed as before1 to place them with three others1 on the top of the pack4 ,go on with this routine until the whole of the pack of cards in your left hand are finished4 ,this false shuffle is a most complete deception4 ,a false cut and deal4 ,with the thirteen trumps in his hand the dealer cannot fail to win every trick4 ,,part ,,viii4 ,a ,,game ,,at ,,whist4 ,in which each ,player holds an entire ,suit1 but which1 however1 does not prevent the ,dealer from winning every ,trick4 ,all the cards must be separated in suits1 namely3 hearts1 diamonds1 spades1 and clubs1 one of each alternately1 without reference as to their being high or low in their classification4 ,make a false shuffle1 and hand the cards to be cut1 without any fear of their being disarranged by this proceeding4 ,they must be dealt one at the time4 ,after the deal1 every person will have a sequence of thirteen cards1 but the dealer will have the advantage of having all the trumps in his own hand4 ,,part ,,ix4 ,,bouillotte4 ,a ,brelan-carr1 or ,four ,cards of the same sort4 ,put at the bottom of the pack1 four cards of the same sort1 for instance1 four sevens1 four tens1 c4 ,then1 for the arrangement of them1 put in succession on the pack3 #a4 ,the two last cards4 #b4 ,three chance cards4 #c4 ,the last card4 #d4 ,three chance cards4 #e4 ,the last card4 #f4 ,three chance cards4 ,a false shuffle1 and false cut2 when you deal1 you will have in your hand four cards of the same sort1 whilst your adversaries will only hold what chance has given them1 which1 under any circumstances1 will not be equal to what you have4 ,,part ,x4 ,a ,,game ,,at ,,bouillotte4 ,in which you win1 after having induced your ,adversaries to stake on their ,cards4 ,put the following thirteen cards under the pack3 #a4 ,four nines4 #b4 ,three queens4 #c4 ,three kings4 #d4 ,three aces4 ,then put in succession1 on the top of the pack3 #a4 ,the two last cards4 #b4 ,the third1 the sixth and the ninth before the last4 #c4 ,the last card4 #d4 ,the second1 the fourth and the sixth before the last4 #e4 ,the four last cards4 ,a false shuffle1 a false cut1 and deal4 ,each player1 possessing three cards of the same sort1 feels almost certain of winning4 ,it is not surprising1 therefore1 that each person stakes on his cards2 but the dealer1 having four cards of the same sort1 marks higher than any of his opponents2 and is1 of course1 the winner4 ,,part ,,xi4 ,b,,zigue4 ,a curious ,game at ,bzigue1 in which1 with a single hand of ,thirty-two ,cards1 you make1 at the first coup1 five hundred and ten points1 without your ,adversary having been able to mark a single one4 ,this game is very amusing1 and merits a description of its mise en scne4 ,this we shall give after the cards are cut4 ,put at the bottom of the pack1 the seventeen cards which follow3 #a4 ,ten of hearts4 #b4 ,ten of clubs4 #c4 ,ten of diamonds4 #d4 ,king of hearts4 #e4 ,king of clubs4 #f4 ,king of diamonds4 #g4 ,ace of hearts4 #h4 ,ace of clubs4 #i4 ,ace of diamonds4 #aj4 ,ace of spades4 #aa4 ,king of spades4 #ab4 ,queen of spades4 #ac4 ,knave of spades4 #ad4 ,ten of spades4 #ae4 ,nine of spades1 #af4 ,seven of spades4 #ag4 ,eight of spades4 ,,classification1 ,,under ,,pretence ,,of ,,shuffling4 ,place in succession on the top of the pack3 #a4 ,the five last 7five spades74 #b4 ,three indifferent cards4 #c4 ,three cards from the bottom of the pack 7three spades74 #d4 ,four indifferent cards4 ,the classification above mentioned1 ought to answer for both packs4 ,the talon1 or stock1 must then be arranged1 so that all the cards necessary for you to win the game with will come successively into your hands4 ,for this purpose1 you must change the form of your false shuffle1 and continue thus3 #ast4 ,take in your right hand1 the fourteen first cards1 which have been placed on the top of the pack4 #bnd4 ,hold the rest of the pack in your left hand between the thumb and four fingers1 then slip in successively under the packet in your right hand3 #ast4 ,with the thumb of the left hand1 the cards on the top of this packet4 #bnd4 ,with the four fingers of the same hand1 the bottom card of the same packet4 #crd4 ,with the thumb of the left hand1 the upper card1 and so on1 to the end of the packet4 ,to be certain that you are doing it all right1 you have only to look at the last card1 which ought to be a ten4 ,the cards should appear in the following order3 #a4 ,three useless cards4 #b4 ,three good cards4 #c4 ,three useless cards4 #d4 ,three good cards4 #e4 ,the seven of spades 7the turn-up card74 #f4 ,the eight of spades4 #g4 ,a useless card4 #h4 ,the ace of hearts4 #i4 ,a useless card4 ,and in the same way for the aces1 the three kings1 and the three tens1 which ought to be separated from each other by indifferent cards4 ,then a false cut1 and deal three cards at a time4 ,when the game of ,bzigue was first invented1 you say to your adversary1 they used to play with the same number of cards as at ,piquet1 making five hundred points the game2 and1 in consequence of the small quantity of cards1 each player had never more than six cards in his hand at a time4 ,let us do things as they ought to be done1 and play it in that way4 ,you deal--,three1 three1 three1 three1 you say1 and turn up a seven of spades1 which marks ten points #aj ,the dealer has a sequence of six in spades4 ,i beg to inform you1 sir1 before looking at my hand1 that whatever be the card you may play1 ,i shall take it with the nine of trumps1 so as to count a mariage in that suit4 ,you take up your cards4 ,you see ,i am right4 ,i take the trick and mark forty #dj ,i am now going to draw out of the talon the eight of trumps1 with which ,i shall take the trick again1 in order to mark my two hundred and fifty #bej ---- #cjj ,i require two hundred points yet to win the game4 ,let us see what will be the most expeditious mode of doing so4 ,the four aces will count a hundred1 for example4 ,you take in an ace4 ,you then play one of your trumps to be the first to draw1 and1 each time you draw1 you say1 ,here is another1--now another1 c41 until you have drawn out the fourth ace4 ,this ought to be the ace of 444 7as the other three aces have been named before drawing1 you can name the suit of this last ace without hesitation74 ,i mark a hundred #ajj ,let us now endeavour to get eighty for the four kings4 ,here is one1 now another1 c41 and here is the fourth4 ,i mark eighty #hj ,remember1 sir1 that ,i warned you that ,i would make five hundred points1 before you marked one4 ,but if you have the brisques 7the four tens7 you may count them4 ,i will1 however1 save you unnecessary trouble1 by getting them myself1 and you take them in1 one after the other4 ,the turn-up card is yours by right1 but1 that it may not injure me ,i am going to trump it1 which makes me game4 ,thus1 ten for the last card1 and twenty for brisques1 make thirty1 which1 added to four hundred and eighty1 make five hundred and ten4 ,it must be understood1 that in this game you must take every trick1 so as to be always the first to play4 ,this game is certainly a difficult one to play1 but it has the advantage of producing a very brilliant effect4 ,,part ,,xii4 ,a ,,coup ,,de ,,piquet4 ,in which you repique with ,cartes-blanches1,n and gain the ,game in spite of being capoted4 ,this ,game consists of one hundred points4 ,arrange a pack of cards beforehand in the following manner3 #a4 ,ace of diamonds4 #b4 ,king of diamonds4 #c4 ,queen of diamonds4 #d4 ,ten of clubs4 #e4 ,nine of clubs4 #f4 ,eight of clubs4 #g4 ,knave of diamonds4 #h4 ,ten of diamonds4 #i4 ,ace of spades4 #aj4 ,seven of clubs4 #aa4 ,ten of hearts4 #ab4 ,nine of hearts4 #ac4 ,queen of spades4 #ad4 ,knave of spades4 #ae4 ,nine of spades4 #af4 ,eight of hearts4 #ag4 ,seven of hearts4 #ah4 ,nine of diamonds4 #ai4 ,seven of spades4 #bj4 ,ace of hearts4 #ba4 ,ace of clubs4 #bb4 ,eight of diamonds4 #bc4 ,seven of diamonds4 #bd4 ,eight of spades4 #be4 ,king of hearts4 #bf4 ,queen of hearts4 #bg4 ,king of clubs4 #bh4 ,king of spades4 #bi4 ,ten of spades4 #cj4 ,queen of clubs4 #ca4 ,knave of clubs4 #cb4 ,knave of hearts4 ,as this arrangement of the cards1 would be much too long a proceeding to enact before your adversary1 the best plan is to have a pack of cards ready prepared1 and to exchange them for those on the table1 before beginning to play4 ,make a false cut1 and deal three at a time4 ,after which1 you commence by showing cartes-blanches 7which counts ten71 then discard the seven1 eight1 and nine of diamonds2 and1 if required1 the eight of spades4 ,if your adversary leaves1 as he ought to do1 a card on the talon1 you have1 by the rentre of the queen of clubs1 the knave of clubs1 and the knave of hearts1 a sixime in clubs1 and a quint in hearts1 with which you repique1 and make a hundred and seven points4 ,you will be the winner1 even if you are capoted4 ,for1 your adversary having discarded1 according to the rules of the game1 the queen1 knave1 nine1 and seven of spades1 has taken for his rentre the king and queen of hearts1 the king of clubs1 and the king of spades4 ,he will hold in his hand a quint major in diamonds1 a quatorze of aces1 and a quatorze of kings1 with which1 had they been good1 he would have made one hundred and forty-nine points4 ,,part ,,xiii4 ,a ,,clever ,,coup ,,de ,,piquet4 ,in which you allow your adversary to choose3--#ast4 ,in what suit he would like to be capoted and repiqued2 #bnd4 ,whether he wishes to have the cards dealt to him by twos or by threes2 #crd4 ,to select whichever of the packs he pleases4 ,the following is the order that the cards must be placed in1 before you hand them to be cut3,o #a4 ,the queen of clubs4 #b4 ,the nine of clubs4 #c4 ,the eight of clubs4 #d4 99,the seven of clubs4 #e4 ,the ace of hearts4 #f4 ,the king of hearts4 #g4 ,the knave of hearts4 #h4 ,the ten of hearts4 #i4 ,the queen of hearts4 #aj4 ,the nine of hearts4 #aa4 ,the eight of hearts4 #ab4 99,the seven of hearts4 #ac4 ,the ace of spades4 #ad4 ,the king of spades4 #ae4 ,the knave of spades4 #af4 ,the ten of spades4 #ag4 ,the queen of spades4 #ah4 ,the nine of spades4 #ai4 ,the eight of spades4 #bj4 99,the seven of spades4 #ba4 ,the ace of diamonds4 #bb4 ,the king of diamonds4 #bc4 ,the knave of diamonds4 #bd4 ,the ten of diamonds4 #be4 ,the queen of diamonds4 #bf4 ,the nine of diamonds4 #bg4 ,the eight of diamonds4 #bh4 99,the seven of diamonds4 #bi4 ,the ace of clubs4 #cj4 ,the king of clubs4 #ca4 ,the knave of clubs4 #cb4 ,the ten of clubs4 ,the four cards marked with an asterisk are large cards4 ,by the arrangement of the cards in the order above1 it is evident that1 if the pack is cut where one of the large cards1 which are the last of each suit1 is placed1 there will always remain in the talon eight cards of the same suit2 consequently1 if your adversary wishes to be repiqued in clubs1 in cutting the pack at the first large card1 which is the seven of clubs1 you necessarily put the eight clubs at the bottom of the pack1 and you will have for your rentre a quint major in clubs4 ,this will be the case with all the suits in cutting at the seventh card4 ,your adversary having expressed a wish to be repiqued in clubs1 his wish will be gratified if the cards are dealt two at a time4 ,,the ,,first ,,player4 ,,the ,,second ,,player4 ,ace of hearts4 ,knave of hearts4 ,king of hearts4 ,ten of hearts4 ,queen of hearts4 ,eight of hearts4 ,nine of hearts4 ,seven of hearts4 ,ace of spades4 ,knave of spades4 ,king of spades4 ,ten of spades4 ,queen of spades4 ,eight of spades4 ,nine of spades4 ,seven of spades4 ,ace of diamonds4 ,knave of diamonds4 ,king of diamonds4 ,ten of diamonds4 ,queen of diamonds4 ,eight of diamonds4 ,nine of diamonds4 ,seven of diamonds4 ,,rentr,e ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,rentr,e ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,player4 ,,player4 ,ace of clubs4 ,nine of clubs4 ,king of clubs4 ,eight of clubs4 ,knave of clubs4 ,seven of clubs4 ,ten of clubs4 ,queen of clubs4 ,if1 on the contrary1 your adversary wishes to have the cards dealt in threes1 the following will be the result3 ,,the ,,first ,,player4 ,,the ,,second ,,player4 ,ace of hearts4 ,ten of hearts4 ,king of hearts4 ,queen of hearts4 ,knave of hearts4 ,nine of hearts4 ,eight of hearts4 ,king of spades4 ,seven of hearts4 ,knave of spades4 ,ace of spades4 ,ten of spades4 ,queen of spades4 ,seven of spades4 ,nine of spades4 ,ace of diamonds4 ,eight of spades4 ,king of diamonds4 ,knave of diamonds4 ,nine of diamonds4 ,ten of diamonds4 ,eight of diamonds4 ,queen of diamonds4 ,seven of diamonds4 ,,rentr,e ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,rentr,e ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,player4 ,,player4 ,ace of clubs4 ,nine of clubs4 ,king of clubs4 ,eight of clubs4 ,knave of clubs4 ,seven of clubs4 ,ten of clubs4 ,queen of clubs4 ,when your adversary has named the suit in which he wishes to be repiqued1 and which we will suppose to be clubs1 you must cut at the seven of this suit1 and then tell him he is at liberty to have the cards dealt to him in twos or threes1 whichever he pleases4 ,the cards having been dealt out1 either in one way or the other1 you then tell your adversary that he may1 before looking at them1 select whichever of the packs of cards he likes1 provided he will agree to be second hand4 ,should the cards have been given in twos1 and each one retains his own hand1 you must discard the nines of hearts1 spades1 and diamonds1 and two queens of any suit4 ,the rentre will be a quint major in clubs1 a quatorze of aces1 and a quatorze of kings1 with which1 of course1 you make a repique4 ,if1 on the contrary1 your adversary chooses to be the first player1 you will discard the sevens of hearts1 spades1 and diamonds1 and two eights of any suit4 ,this will give you1 for your rentre1 the same quint in clubs1 a quatorze of queens1 and a quatorze of knaves1 which will equally produce a repique4 ,if your adversary1 instead of having the cards dealt in twos1 prefers that they should be given in threes1 and that he keeps his own hand1 you must discard the king1 the eight and the seven of hearts1 and the nine and eight of spades1 so as to have for your rentre a quint major in clubs1 a tierce from the queen in diamonds1 three aces1 three queens1 and three knaves1 with which you repique4 ,if he chooses to be the first player1 you will discard the queen and the nine of hearts1 the knave and the seven of spades1 and the ace of diamonds4 ,by this you will have1 for your rentre1 the same quint major in clubs1 a tierce from the nine in diamonds1 three kings1 and three tens1 which will make twenty-nine points4 ,in playing1 you will only make sixty the game4 ,although we have supposed the repique to have been asked for in clubs by your adversary1 it must be clearly understood1 that it may be similarly done in any other suit2 and it is only necessary1 as has been already explained at the beginning of this chapter1 to cut at the seven of the suit called for4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,minor ,,cheats ,,of ,,men ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,ruses and ,frauds allowable by custom in ,society4 ,in the ordinary affairs of life1 it is easy to know the difference between honesty and roguery3 conscience and the laws have traced a line of demarcation1 about which all right-minded people agree4 ,in the matter of play1 it is not the same thing3 one knows perfectly where roguery ends1 but it is very difficult to say where it begins8 ,let me hasten to give an explanation1 without which my readers will have a right to call me to task4 ,do you mean to pretend1 they will say1 that a man of sense is not capable of discriminating between honesty and roguery8 ,this would1 indeed1 be giving too great a position to cheating4 ,i at once disclaim the assertion of any such opinion2 none believe more in honesty than myself4 ,but for that firm belief1 this work would probably never have seen the light4 ,but let a man be ever so upright and just in his play1 there are houses where certain licences are allowed1 where the play is not high enough1 to make it worth a man's while to cheat4 ,these peccadilloes1 may for want of a better appellation1 be termed clever manoeuvres1 finesses1 ruses1 and mental sleight-of-hand4 ,of these ,i will just mention a few1 beginning with the most innocent1 and progressing by degrees1 until ,i come to actual sharping4 ,at the same time ,i must request my readers to fix their own limits1 where honesty ends and roguery begins4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for instance1 if you are playing with an awkward adversary1 who1 in arranging his cards1 classes his trumps too ostensibly1 ought you1 therefore1 to avoid taking advantage of this awkwardness1 as a guide to your adversary's hand8 99 99 99 99 99 ,again1 if your adversary1 through carelessness1 shows his cards1 or if1 by holding them too near the candle1 they are rendered transparent3 is it necessary to tell him of it8 99 99 99 99 99 ,then1 in playing cart4 ,what is to be said of an adversary who consults the bye-standers1 as if he had the right to do so1 as to whether he shall play or not1 and who1 after a little hesitation1 decides to discard8 ,from thus acting it might be supposed1 that he had a first-rate hand1 and that prudence alone prompted the question4 ,do not be taken in3 ,he will discard all his five cards4 ,he wished to deceive his adversary1 and if the latter is inexperienced1 he will succeed in so doing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another man will1 before proposing1 look at his counters1 as if to mark the king1 then1 after giving you this false alarm1 he asks for cards1 and is only too glad if you acquiesce in his request3 for not only had he no king at all1 but a very bad hand4 99 99 99 99 99 ,you are still playing at cart1 and you have three points1 but your adversary is doubtless in ignorance of the fact1 since he inquires of you1 where you are8 ,i count three1 you reply4 ,this announcement seems to make him decide not to stand on his own cards1 so he proposes4 ,from this1 you would suppose he had a good hand4 ,you would be wrong in this case to refuse1 so you accept and give him five cards1 as all this little bye-play was intended to intimidate you4 ,he had nothing at all4 99 99 99 99 99 ,some players endeavour to depict on their countenances1 the contrary of what they really feel4 ,if they have a good hand1 they eagerly ask for cards1 and when they have a bad one1 they pretend to hesitate4 ,others1 with good cards1 pretend to be in a bad temper1 and frown2 whilst1 with bad cards1 they appear gay and anxious to begin to play4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it sometimes happens that a player1 at the end of a game1 is puzzled which of the two last cards he is to throw down4 ,one of them may save the vole1 but he is not sure which4 ,instead of playing according to the proverb1 which says qui garde carreau n'est pas capot1 he holds down his hand1 so that his adversary may see both cards1 and fixes his eyes upon those of his vis--vis1 which very naturally1 are bent on the card which is against himself4 ,the other profits by this look1 and saves himself from being capoted4 ,this is an infallible criterion1 but is it a right thing to do8 ,the following anecdote is related on this subject1 and will not be out of place here3 ,at a game of ,piquet1 in which many were greatly interested1 one of the players was on the point of being capoted4 ,he had but two cards to play1 the king of hearts1 and the king of spades4 ,one of these would save him1 if he only played the right one2 but which8 ,he laid them both down on the table1 and1 after some hesitation1 he decided on playing the king of spades1 when he felt some one press his foot4 ,accepting this indication as a warning1 he changed his intention1 played the king of hearts1 and lost the game4 ,it was the king of spades he ought to have played4 ,vexed at the error he had committed1 he asked who it was that pressed his foot1 and found out it was his adversary4 ,the latter apologised1 pretending it was by accident4 ,in this instance1 again1 the reader must judge for himself of the honesty of both the players4 99 99 99 99 99 ,when a game of cart is being played1 it is not considered right1 first to bet on one side1 and then on the other4 ,whether you bet or not1 you always continue on the same side4 ,there are people1 however1 who even manage to win on both sides1 and this is the way they manage it3 ,two persons agree to make their interest common1 and place themselves on opposite sides of the table4 ,if a good hand is dealt to either party1 the accomplice makes a sign to his friend1 and he accordingly bets high4 ,the other1 meanwhile1 makes no bet this time4 ,when fortune appears in favour of the opposite party1 the stakes change sides4 ,these manoeuvres are very innocent1 no doubt1 but they are not acknowledged4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in games of four players1 as in ,whist1 for example1 you ought to make no communication whatever to your partner1 except such as are authorised and allowed by the rules of the game4 ,to this no objection can be made1 as it is equally open to both sides3 but some players make a series of signs1 and nervous contractions of the muscles of the face1 which enlighten their partner considerably as to what sort of hand they have4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in playing cart1 whilst shuffling the cards1 some players allow their adversary to see the card at the bottom of the pack4 ,there are some persons who take advantage of this negligence4 ,this is the little manoeuvre which they employ3-- ,the dealer offers the cards to his adversary to cut4 ,this is done in such a manner as to leave only about eleven cards1 which will1 of course1 go on the top of the pack4 ,the observer1 therefore1 well knows1 that if that card is not in his own hand1 it must be in that of his adversary2 and every cart player is aware1 of how much consequence it is1 to know even one card in the hand of your adversary1 in that game4 ,the following facts ,i particularly commend to the attention of my readers4 ,every one knows1 that in certain games1 cart especially1 the cards are apt to run in suits1 the reason of which is evident1 as1 in playing1 one is always obliged to follow suit4 ,without you try the thing yourself1 you will scarcely believe it2 but if the cards be ever so well shuffled1 it is very difficult to separate any two or three cards1 which have been played together4 ,an expert player will derive great advantage1 from the glimpse he obtains whilst his opponent is shuffling the cards4 ,let us suppose1 for example1 that he has seen amongst the cards a sequence from the king1 as the king1 queen1 and knave of hearts4 ,it is more than probable1 that the above cards1 after the shuffle1 still remain together2 and if1 after the deal1 you have the king in your own hand1 and it was the second of the two cards dealt to you first1 you may be pretty sure that the queen and knave1 following close after1 are in your adversary's hand4 ,on the other hand1 if the knave is the first card of the three next that are dealt to you1 your adversary will have the king and queen4 ,again1 if the king is turned up1 the two others will be the next to follow in the talon4 ,to obtain these results1 may not a person1 in spite of himself1 be led into neglecting to shuffle the cards too well8 99 99 99 99 99 ,it often happens at the game of ,bouillotte1 that a player who has a bad hand1 proposes to play for a very considerable stake2 this is done merely to alarm his opponent4 ,this finesse sometimes succeeds1 but it is of too gross a character1 to be tolerated in many clubs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as a finale to this collection of minor tricks1 more or less allowable in play1 ,i will cite an anecdote1 which1 true or not1 the world gives the credit of to ,m4 de ,talleyrand4 ,talleyrand was once playing at ,bouillotte2 he had just dealt the cards1 and was waiting1 according to the rules of the game1 to stake4 ,the two first adversaries allowed their turn to pass1 without risking anything4 ,ten louis1 said the third player4 ,twenty1 said ,talleyrand4 ,forty1 said the adversary4 ,i stake my all1 continued the ,diplomatist1 pointing to the hundred louis before him1 and1 at the same time1 he let a card fall out of his hand on the table4 ,it was a nine2 he took it up again hastily4 ,his adversary had just time to see the card1 and1 although he had a brelan of kings1 he thought it more prudent to stop betting4 ,he concluded that ,talleyrand must have a first-rate hand1 to back it so heavily4 ,he was led to this opinion1 because the turn-up card was a nine1 and in all probability1 the nine which fell from the hands of the ,diplomatist1 was one of a brelan of four4 ,each player laid his hand on the table2 ,talleyrand gained with three odd cards1 amongst which was the nine he had dropped insidiously on the table to deceive his adversary4 ,here ,i had better stop2 for1 if ,i continued such stories for many more pages1 ,i fear that the heading of this chapter would be insensibly merged in those which have preceded it4 ,my readers must1 however1 by this time1 be sufficiently edified on the nature of the rogueries ,i have exposed1 and will be strengthened in the opinion1 that an honourable player ought only to take the advantages offered him by his own good fortune or good play4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my task is ended4 ,allow me1 dear reader1 to disclose to you an apprehension1 which has haunted me throughout this work4 ,this apprehension you will more easily understand if ,i preface it1 by way of illustration1 with the following apologue4 ,you have1 doubtless1 witnessed the singular spectacle of two men fighting in the public highway1 and1 suddenly reconciled1 turning their united strength against the officious persons who separate them4 ,in a similar manner1 does not the author of these pages run the same risk8 ,may it not happen1 that the losers and the winners1 the dupes as well as the rogues1 may regard him as their common enemy8 ,the infatuated gamblers will reproach him for making them afraid of being robbed1 and thereby preventing them from playing4 ,the ,greeks will be sure to hate him1 for having unmasked their knaveries4 ,these considerations1 you see1 have not prevented me from following out the task ,i had imposed upon myself1 and1 whatever happens1 ,i trust the public will give me credit for a wish to enlighten them1 and for having had their interest more at heart even than my own4 ,,bradbury ,,and ,,evans1 ,,printers1 ,,whitefriars4 ,,footnotes3 ,a ,in the ,united ,states of ,america this perfidious scheme was brought to great perfection1 and carried out by the bankers themselves at these establishments4 ,robertson1 in his ,memoirs1 thus describes it3--,in the centre of the tables for play a mechanical spring is concealed1 which1 by being touched1 can make the ball enter the division of pair or impair at pleasure4 ,if ,pair is the favourite1 and large stakes are on it1 the spring under the table is touched1 and1 by tightening by the hundredth part of an inch all the pairs1 the ball is forced to enter the impairs1 which are larger4 ,whilst this was going on1 the victims were pricking their cards and reckoning their chances of winning1 but what could the most learned calculator do against a push of the knee8 ,b ,benazet is the name of the proprietor of the gambling-tables4 ,c ,m4 ,ancelot4 ,d ,two well-known public-houses in the vicinity of the ,march de la ,halle4 ,e ,pair1 ,impair1 ,passe1 ,manque1 ,rouge1 ,noir1 and the thirty-eight numbers in ,roulette4 ,f ,to martingale1 is to double your stake each time that you lose4 ,g ,see the interesting work of ,edouard ,gourdon1 ,les faucheurs de ,nuit--the chapter on fetishes4 ,h ,see the technical part of this work on cards biseautes4 ,i ,sauter la coupe is1 to pass the lower packet of cards on the top of the other1 without being seen4 ,j ,see the figure in the article on ,lansquenet1 page #bbh4 ,k ,see page #agj4 ,l ,one may also make as many as two hundred points by having the four tierce majors in your hand2 but the smallest quart in the hand of your adversary1 if it were only the tens1 greatly lessens your advantages4 ,m ,jeu de rgle is a hand to be played without discarding4 ,n ,cartes-blanches is a hand at ,piquet without a court card--it counts ten4 ,o ,for this trick1 like the preceding one1 the pack ought to be prepared beforehand1 and the packs changed before the game begins4 ,transcribers' ,notes3 ,punctuation1 hyphenation1 and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book2 otherwise they were not changed4 ,simple typographical errors were corrected2 occasional unbalanced quotation marks retained4 ,ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained4 ,page #dj3 one of the betters4 was printed with that spelling4 ,page #ij3 clandestine hell was printed that way1 not as hall4 ,page #bei3 where it begins8 was printed with the question mark4 ,footnote ,j 7originally on page #agi7 refers to a figure on page #bai1 and a #b was handwritten over the #a1 but the figure actually appears on page #bbh4 ,the reference has been corrected in this e,book4