Onthisprovisionadailypaperjustlyremarks:——`Astatuteverymuchneededhascomeintoforce。Personsplayingorbettinginthestreetswithcoinsorcardsarenowmadeamenabletothe5thGeorgeIV。，c。83，andmaybecommittedtogaolasroguesandvagabonds。Thestatutesalreadyinforceagainstsuchroguesandvagabondssubjectthem，webelieve，notonlytoimprisonmentwithhardlabour，butalsotocorporalpunishment。InanycasetheNewActshould，ifstringentlyadministered，speedilyputastoptothetoocommonandquiteintolerablenuisanceofyoungmenandboyssprawlingaboutthepavement，orincornersofthewharvesbythewaterside，andplayingat"pitch-and-toss，"

"shove-halfpenny，""TommyDodd，""coddams，"andothergamesofchance。WhohasnotseenthatterribleetchinginHogarth’s"IndustryandIdleness，"wheretheidleapprentice，insteadofgoingdevoutlytochurchandsingingoutofthesamehymn-bookwithhismaster’sprettydaughter，isgamblingonatombstonewithaknotofdissoluteboys？Awatchfulbeadlehasespiedtheyouthfulgamesters，andispreparingtoadministerasoundingthwackwithacaneontheshouldersofThomasIdle。ButtheraceofLondonbeadlesisnowwell-nighextinct；andthefewthatremaindarenotusetheirswitchesonthesmallvagabonds，forfearofbeingsummonedforassault。ItistobehopedthatthepolicewillbeinstructedtoputtheActsharplyinforceagainstthepitch-and-tossplayers；and，inpassing，wemightexpressawishthattheywouldalsosuppresstheraggedurchinswhoturn"cart-wheels"inthemud，andthehalf-nakedgirlswhohauntthevicinityofrailwaystationsandsteamboatpiers，pesteringpassengerstobuycigar-lights。’

ENDOFVOL。I。

TheGamingTable(Volume2):ItsVotariesandVictimsbyAndrewSteinmetzInallTimesandCountries，especiallyinEnglandandinFrance。

BYANDREWSTEINMETZ，ESQ。，OFTHEMIDDLETEMPLE，BARRISTER-AT-LAW；FIRST-CLASSEXTRA

CERTIFICATESCHOOLOFMUSKETRY，HYTHE；lateOFFICERINSTRUCTOR

MUSKETRY，THEQUEENSOWNLIGHTINFANTRYMILITIA。AUTHOROF’THE

HISTORYOFTHEJESUITS，’’JAPANANDHERPEOPLE，’’THEROMANCEOF

DUELLING，’&c。，&c。

’Thesharp，theblackleg，andtheknowingone，Liveryorlace，theself-samecircle，run；

Thesamethepassion，endandmeansthesame——

DickandhisLordshipdifferbutinname。’

INTWOVOLUMES——VOL。II。

CONTENTSOFVOL。II。

I。CHEVALIERSD’INDUSTRIE，ORPOLITESHARPERS

II。PROFESSIONALGAMESTERSANDTHEIRFRAUDS

III。ANECDOTESOFTHEPASSIONSANDVICISSITUDESOFGAMESTERS

IV。ACTROCITIES，DUELS。SUICIDES，ANDEXECUTIONOFGAMBLERS

V。ODDITIESANDWITTICISMSOFGAMBLERS

VI。THEGAMINGCLUBS

VII。DOINGSINGAMINGHOUSES

VIII。THEDOCTRINEOFPROBABILITIESAPPLIEDTOGAMBLING

IX。THEHISTORYOFDICEANDCARDS

X。PIQUET，BASSET，FARO，HAZARD，PASSE-DIX，PUT，CROSSANDPILE，THIMBLE-RIG

XI。COCK-FIGHTING

XII。THETURF，HISTORICAL，SOCIAL，MORAL

XIII。FORTUNE-TELLINGBYCARDS(FORLADIES)

XIV。AMUSINGCARDTRICKS

THEGAMINGTABLE。

CHAPTERI。

CHEVALIERSD’INDUSTRIE，ORPOLITESHARPERS。

Chevaliersd’industrie，orpoliteandaccomplishedsharpers，havealwaysexistedineverycity，fromtheearliesttimestothepresent。Theordinaryprogressoftheseinterestinggentlemenisasfollows。Theirdebutisoftendifficult，andmanyofthemarestoppedshortintheircareer。Theyonlysucceedbymeansofgreatexertionandseveretrials；buttheyendureeverythinginordertobetoleratedorpermittedtoexercisetheircalling。Tosecurecredittheyallythemselveswithmenofrespectability，orthosewhopassforsuch。Whentheyhavenotitlestheyfabricatethem；andfewpersonsdisputetheirclaims。Theyarefoundusefulforthepleasuresofsociety，theexpensesofwhichtheyoftenpay——atthecostofthedupestheymakeintheworld。Theincomeofchevaliersd’industrieisatfirstderivedfromthoseinexperiencedpersonswhomtheygetintheirclutchesbymeansofeverykindofenticement，inordertoruinthemsomeday——iftheyhaveany’expectations’orarelikelytoberich；orinordertomakeaccomplicesofthemiftheyhaveonlyaptitudesforthepurpose。Afterhavingledthemfromerrortoerror，aftersuggestingtothemallsortsofwantsandvices，theymakethemgamble，iftheyareofage；theyholdupplaytothemasaninexhaustiblesourceofwealth。

The’protector’nexthandsoverhis’youngfriends’to’executioners，’whofleecethemforthecommonbenefitoftheconfederates。Theydonotalwayswaitforthecomingofageoftheiryoungdupesinordertostrikethegrand’stroke。’Whentheyfindthatthefatherofafamilyshuddersattheideaofapublicscandal，theyimmolatetheirvictimatonce——forfearlestheshouldescapefromtheirhands。Ofcoursetheyarealwaysopento’capitulate’——tocometoterms；andiftheaidofthelawisinvokedtheygiveindiscreetly。

AboutacenturyagothereflourishedatParisoneoftheseadventurers，whomadeagreatnoiseanddidavastamountofevil。Thismanofathousandfaces，thisProteus，asgreatacorrupterashewascorrupted，changedhisname，hisquarters，andfieldofoperations，accordingtotheexigencesofbusiness。

Althoughamanofardenttemperamentandinconceivableactivity，hiscold-bloodedrascalitywasneverinahurry。Hecouldwait；

hecouldbidehistime。Takingin，ataglance，alltherequirementsofacase，andseeingthroughallitsdifficulties，heworkedouthisschemewiththeutmostpatienceandconsummatedhiscrimewithabsolutesecurity。

Sometimeshegaveaconcertforamateurs，elegantsuppersforgayladies，andspecialsoireesforthelearnedandthewitty。Hewasnotparticularastothemeansofdoingbusiness；thushetraffickedineverything，——forthesaleofaliving，ortheprocurationofamistress——forhehadassociatesinallranks，amongallprofessionsofmen。

HehadtwentyFarotablesinoperationeverynight，whilsthisemissarieswereonthewatchfornewarrivals，andforthosewhohadrecentlycomeintoproperty。

Ingeneral，roguessoonbetraythemselvesbysomestupidbungle；

butsuchwasnotthecasewiththisman；hedefendedhimself，asitwere，onallsides，andalwayskepthimselfinpositionsoastoopposetoeachofhisvicestheproofpositiveofthecontraryvirtues。Thus，ifaccusedofusury，hecouldprovethathehadlent，withoutinterest，considerablesumsofmoney。Cowardlyandbaseinatete-a-tete，hewasboldandredoubtableinpublic；

thosewhohadmadehimtrembleinsecretwerethencompelledtoacknowledgehimamanofcourage。Evenhismorethansuspectedprobitywasdefendedbysuchasbelievedthemselveshisdepositaries，whereastheywere，inpointoffact，onlyreceiversofstolenproperty。

Affable，insinuatingtoadegree，hemightbecomparedtothosebrigandsofEgyptwhoembracedtheirvictimsinordertostranglethem。[1]Henevershowedmoredevotednessthanwhenhemeditatedsomeperfidy，normoreassurancethanwhenconvictedoftherascality。Playingfastandloosewithhonourandthelaws，hewassuretofind，whenthreatenedbythearmofjustice，thefemalerelativesofthejudgesthemselvestakinghispartanddoingtheirbestto’gethimoff。’Suchwasthisextraordinarychevalierd’industrie，whomighthavegoneonwithhisdiabolicalperpetrationshadhenot，atlast，attemptedtoomuch，failinginthegrandeststrokehehadevermeditated——andyetavulgarfraud——whenhewasconvicted，branded，andsenttothegalleys。[2]

[1]Senec。，Epist。Ii。

[2]Dusaulx，DelaPassionduJeu。

Thefollowingnarrativeelucidatesastillmoremodernphaseofthiselegant’industry。’MyauthorityisM。Robert-Houdin。

CAUGHTINATRAP。

M。Olivierde——wasadissipatedyounggentleman。Hisfamilywasoneoftheoldestandmostrespectableofthecountry，anddeservedlyenjoyedthehighestconsideration。M。Olivierde——，hisfather，wasnotrich，andthereforecouldnotdomuchforhisson；theconsequencewasthatowingtohisoutrageousprodigalitythesonwassorelypinchedformeanstokeepuphisposition；heexhaustedhiscredit，andwassoonoverwhelmedwithdebt。Amongthecompanionsofhisdissipationwasayoungmanwhoseabundantmeansfilledhimwithadmirationandenvy；helivedlikeaprinceandhadnotasinglecreditor。Onedayheaskedhisfriendtoexplainthemysteryofthefactthat，withoutpossessinganyfortune，hecouldgratifyallhistastesandfancies，whilsthehimself，withcertainresources，wascompelledtosubmittoprivations，stillgettingintodebt。

Chauvignac——suchwasthenameofthefriendthusaddressed——wasacard-sharper，andheinstantlyseizedtheopportunitytomakesomethingoutofthehappydispositionofthismodernprodigalson，thisscionofgentility。Withtheutmostfranknessheexplainedtotheyoungmanhiswonderfulmethodofkeepinghispocketsfullofmoney，andshowedthatnothingcouldbeeasierthanforOliviertogoanddolikewiseinhisterriblecondition；——inshort，ononehandtherewerewithinhisgrasp，riches，pleasure，allmannerofenjoyment；ontheother，pitilesscreditors，ruin，misery，andcontempt。Thetempter，moreover，offeredtoinitiatehislistenerinhisinfalliblemethodofgettingrich。InhisframeofmindOlivieryieldedtothetemptation，withthefulldetermination，ifnottogetmoneybycheatingatcards，atanyratetolearnthemethodwhichmightserveasameansofself-defenceshouldhenotthinkpropertouseitforattack——suchwasthefinalargumentsuggestedbythehumanMephistophelestohispupil。

TakingOliviertohishouse，heshowedhimapackofcards。’Nowhereisapackofcards，’hesaid；’thereseemstobenothingremarkableaboutit，doesthere？’Olivierexaminedthepackanddeclaredthatthecardsdidnotappeartodifferintheleastfromallothers。’Well，’saidChauvignac，’neverthelesstheyhavebeensubjectedtoapreparationcalledbiseautage，orhavingoneendofthecardsmadenarrowerthantheother。Thisdispositionenablesustoremovefromthepacksuchandsuchcardsandthentoclasstheminthenecessaryordersothattheymaygetintothehandoftheoperator。’Chauvignacthenproceededtoapplyhispreceptsbyanexample，andalthoughtheyoungmanhadnoparticularqualificationfortheartoflegerdemain，hesucceededatoncetoadmirationinagameatEcarte，forhehadalreadymasteredthefirstprocessofcheating。Havingthus，ashethought，sufficientlycompromisedhisvictim，Chauvignaclefthimtohistemptations，andtookleaveofhim。

Twodaysafterwardstheprofessorreturnedtohispupilandinvitedhimtoaccompanyhimonapleasuretrip。Olivierexcusedhimselfonaccountofhisdesperatecondition——oneofhiscreditorsbeinginpursuitofhimforadebtofonethousandfrancs。’Isthatall？’saidChauvignac；andpullingouthispocket-bookheadded，——’Here’sabank-note；youcanrepaymeto-

morrow。’’Why，man，youaremad！’exclaimedOlivier。’Beitso，’saidChauvignac；’andinmymadnessIgiveyoucreditforanotherthousand-francbank-notetogoandgetthirtythousandfrancswhicharewaitingforyou。’’Now，doexplainyourself，foryouaredrivingMEmad。’’Nothingmoreeasy。Hereisthefact，’saidChauvignac。’M。leComtedeVandermool，awealthyBelgiancapitalist，adesperategamesterifevertherewasone，andwhocanloseahundredthousandfrancswithoutmuchinconvenience，isnowatBoulogne，wherehewillremainaweek。

Thismillionnairemustbethinnedalittle。Nothingiseasier。

Oneofmyfriendsandconfreres，namedChaffard，isalreadywiththecounttopreparetheway。Wehaveonlynowtosettowork。

Youareoneofus——that’sagreed——andinafewdaysyouwillreturn，tosatisfyyourcreditorsandbuyyourmistressashawl。’

’Stopabit。Youaregoingtoofast。Waitalittle。Ihaven’tasyetsaidYes，’repliedOlivier。’Idon’twantyourYesnow；

youwillsayitatBoulogne。Forthepresentgoandpayyourbill。Wesetoutintwohours；thepost-horsesarealreadyordered；weshallstartfrommyhouse:bepunctual。’

ThepartyreachedBoulogneandputupattheHoteldel’Univers。

Ontheirarrivaltheywereinformedthatnotimewastobelost，asthecounttalkedofleavingnextday。Thetwotravellerstookahastydinner，andatonceproceededtotheapartmentoftheBelgianmillionnaire。Chaffard，whohadprecededthem，introducedthemastwoofhisfriends，whosepropertywassituatedinthevicinityofBoulogne。

M。leComtedeVandermoolwasamanaboutfiftyyearsofage，withanopen，candidcountenance。Heworeseveralforeigndecorations。Hereceivedthetwogentlemenwithcharmingaffability；hedidmore；heinvitedthemtospendtheeveningwithhim。Ofcoursetheinvitationwasaccepted。Whentheconversationbegantoflag，thecountproposedagame——whichwasalso，ofcourse，veryreadilyagreedtobythethreecomperes。

Whilethetablewasprepared，Chauvignacgavehisyoungfriendtwopacksofcards，tobesubstitutedforthosewhichshouldbefurnishedbythecount。Ecartewastobethegame，andOlivierwastoplay，thetwootherassociateshavingpretendedtoknownothingaboutthegame，andsayingthattheywouldcontentthemselvesbybettingwitheachother。OfcourseOlivierwasrathersurprisedatthisdeclaration，buthesoonunderstoodbycertainsignsfromChauvignacthatthisreservationwasintendedtodoawaywiththecount’ssuspicions，incaseoftheirsuccess。

Thecount，enormouslyrichashewas，wouldonlyplayforbank-notes。’Metalsmellsbadinaroom，’hesaid。Thenovice，atfirstconfusedatbeingapartytotheintendedroguery，followedthedictatesofhisconscienceand，neglectingtheadvantagesofhishands，trustedmerelytochance。Theresultwasthattheonlythousand-francbank-notehehadwasspeedilytransferredtothecount。AtthatmomentChauvignacgavehimasignificantlook，andthis，togetherwiththedesiretoretrievehisloss，inducedhimtoputintoexecutiontheculpablemanoeuvreswhichhisfriendhadtaughthim。Hisworkwasoftheeasiest；thecountwassoshort-sightedthathehadtokeephisnosealmostuponthecardstoseethem。Chancenowturned，asmightbeexpected，andthousand-francbank-notessoonaccumulatedinthehandsofOlivier，who，intoxicatedbythispossession，workedawaywithincredibleardour。Moreover，thecountwasnotintheleastoutofhumouratlosingsoimmensely；onthecontrary，hewasquitejovial；indeed，fromhislookshemighthavebeensupposedtobethewinner。Atlength，however，hesaidwithasmile，takingapinchfromhisgoldensnuff-box——’Iamevidentlynotinvein。Ihavelosteightythousandfrancs。I

seethatIshallsoonbeinforonehundredthousand。Butitisproper，mydearsir，thatIshouldsayIdon’tmakeahabitoflosingmorethanthissumatasitting；andifitmustbeso，I

proposetosupbeforelosingmylasttwentythousandfrancs。

Perhapsthiswillchangemyvein。Ithinkyouwillgrantmethisindulgence。’Theproposalwasagreedto。

Olivier，almostoutofhissensesatthepossessionofeightythousandfrancs，couldnotresistthedesireofexpressinghisgratitudetoChauvignac，whichhedid，graspinghishandwithemotionandleadinghimintoacorneroftheroom。

Alas！thewholethingwasonlyaninfamousconspiracytoruintheyoungman。TheBelgiancapitalist，thiscountapparentlysorespectable，wasonlyanexpertcard-sharperwhomChauvignachadbroughtfromParistoplayouttheviletragi-comedy，thedenouementofwhichwouldbetheruinoftheunfortunateOlivier。

Atthemomentwhenthelatterleftthecard-tabletogotoChauvignac，thepretendedmillionnairechangedthepackofcardstheyhadbeenusingfortwootherpacks。

Supperwentoffverypleasantly。Theydrankverymoderately，fortheheadhadtobekeptcoolforwhathadtofollow。Theysoonsatdownagainatthecard-table。’Now，’saidtheParisiancard-

shaper，onresuminghisseat，’Ishouldliketoendthematterquickly:Iwillstakethetwentythousandfrancsinalump。’

Olivier，confidentofsuccessafterhispreviousachievement，readilyassented；but，alas，thetwentythousandfrancsofwhichhemadesurewaswonbyhisadversary。

Fortythousandfrancswentinlikemanner。Olivier，breathless，utterlyprostrate，knewnotwhattodo。Allhismanoeuvreswerepractisedinvain；hecouldgivehimselfnonebutsmallcards。

Hisopponenthadhishandsfulloftrumps，andHEdealtthemtohim！InhisdespairheconsultedChauvignacbyalook，andthelattermadeasigntohimtogoon。Thewretchedyoungmanwenton，andlostagain。Bewildered，besidehimself，hestakedfabuloussumstotryandmakeupforhislosses，andverysoonfound，inhisturn，thatheowedhisadversaryonehundredthousandfrancs(L4166)！

Atthispointthehorribledenouementcommenced。Thepretendedcountstopped，andcrossinghisarmsonhisbreast，saidsternly——’MonsieurOlivierde——，youmustbeveryrichtostakesogliblysuchenormoussums。Ofcourseyouknowyourfortuneandcansquareyourselfwithit；but，howeverrichyoumaybe，yououghttoknowthatitisnotsufficienttoloseahundredthousandfrancs，butthatyoumustpayit。Besides，I

havegivenyoutheexample。Begin，therefore，byputtingdownthesumIhavewonfromyou；afterwhichwecangoon。’……

’Nothingcanbemoreproper，sir，’stammeredoutyoungOlivier，’Iamreadytosatisfyyou；but，afterall，youknowthat……

gamingdebts……myword……’

’Thed——l！sir，’saidthepretendedcount，givingthetableaviolentblowwithhisfist——’WhydoyoutalktomeaboutyourWORD。Gad！Youarewellentitledtoappealtotheengagementsofhonour！Well！Wehavenowtoplayanothergameonthistable，andwemustspeakoutplainly。MonsieurOlivierde——，youarearogue……Yes，arogue！ThecardswehavebeenusingarebiseauteesandYOUbroughtthemhither。’

’Sir！……Youinsultme！’saidOlivier。

’Indeed？Well，sir，thatastonishesme！’repliedthefalseBelgianironically。

’Thatistoomuch，sir。Idemandsatisfaction，andthatontheveryinstant。Doyouunderstandme？Letusgooutatonce。’

’No！no！Wemustendthisquarrelhere，sir。Lookhere——yourtwofriendsshallbeyour"seconds；"IamnowgoingtosendforMINE。’

Thecard-sharper，whohadrisenatthesewords，rangthebellviolently。Hisownservantentered。’Go，’saidhe，’totheProcureurdeRoi，andrequesthimtocomehereonaveryimportantmatter。Beasquickasyoucan。’

’Oh，sir，bemerciful！Don’truinme！’exclaimedthewretchedOlivier；’Iwilldowhatyoulike。’Atthesewords，thesharpertoldhisservanttowaitbehindthedoor，andtoexecutehisorderifheshouldhearnothingtothecontraryintenminutes。

’Andnow，sir，’continuedthesharper，turningtoOlivier，’andnow，sir，forthebusinessbetweenyouandme。ThesecardshavebeensubstitutedbyyouintheplaceofthosewhichIsupplied……Youmustdothemup，writeyournameuponthecover，andsealitwiththecoatofarmsonyourring。’

OlivierlookedfirstatChauvignacandthenatChaffard，butboththefellowsonlymadesignstohimtoresignhimselftothecircumstances。Hedidwhatwasordered。

’Thatisnotall，sir，’addedthefalseBelgian；’Ihavefairlywonmoneyfromyouandhavearighttodemandaguaranteeforpayment。Youmustdrawmeshortbillsforthesumofonehundredthousandfrancs。’

Asthewretchedyoungmanhesitatedtocomplywiththisdemand，hispitilesscreditorrosetoringthebell。

’Don’tring，sir，don’tring，’saidOlivier，’I’llsign。’

Hesigned，andthevillanywasconsummated。Olivierreturnedtohisfamilyandmadeanhumbleavowalofhisfaultandhisengagements。Hisvenerablefatherreceivedtheterribleblowwithresignation，andpaidthe100，000francs，estimatinghishonourfarabovethatamountofmoney。[3]

[3]ThisnarrativeiscondensedfromtheaccountoftheaffairbyRobert-Hondin，TrichericsdesGrecsdevoilees。

ANATTORNEY’DONE’BYAGAMBLER。

Aturfiteandgambler，representedunderthelettersofMrH——e，havinglostallhismoneyatDoncasterandthefollowingYorkMeeting，devisedaplan，withhiscoadjutor，toobtainthemeansfortheirdeparturefromYork，which，nodoubt，willbeconsideredexceedinglyingenious。

HehadheardofanattorneyinthetownwhowasveryfondofBackgammon；andonthissimplepieceofinformationanelaborateplanwasconcocted。MrH——efeignedillness，wenttobed，andsentforalargequantityoftartaremetic，whichhetook。Afterhehadsufferedtheoperationofthefirstdosehesentforadoctor，whopronouncedhim，ofcourse，verylanguidandill；andnotknowingthecause，orderedhimmoremedicine，whichthepatienttookgoodcarenottoallowtostayonhisstomach。

Ontheseconddayheaskedthedoctor，withgreatgravity，ifheconsideredhimindanger，adding，’becausehehadnevermadeaWILLtobequeathhisproperty。’Thedoctorreplied，’No，notinabsolutedanger，buttherewasnoharminmakingaWILL。’

Theattorney，accordingly，wassentfor——ofcoursetheverymanwishedfor——theloverofBackgammonbeforementioned。Thegoodmancame；hetookthe’instructions，’anddrewupthelastwillandtestamentoftheruinedturfite，wholeft(inthewill)aboutL50，000，whichnomaneverheardof，livingordead。

TheBUSINESSbeingdone，thepatientsaidthatifhehadamoment’srelaxationhethoughtheshouldrallyandovercomethemalady。Thepoorlawyersaidifhecouldinanywaycontributetohiscomfortheshouldbehappy。Theofferwasembracedbyobservingthatifhecouldsitupinbed——buthewasafraidhewasnotable——ahitatBackgammonwouldbeagreatsourceofamusement。

Thelawyer，likealladeptsinsuchmatters，wasonlytoowillingtocatchattheidea；theboardwasbrought。

OfcoursethemanwhohadL50，000toleavebehindcouldnotbeexpectedtoplay’forlove；’andsowhenMrH——eproposed’apoundahitortrebleagammon，’thelawyernotonlythoughtitreasonable，but，consciousofhispowerinthegame，eagerlyacceptedthetermsofplaying。Theyplayed；butthelawyerwasgammonedalmostincessantly，tillhelostL50。ThenH——eproposed’doubleorquitstoL1000，’——thereuponthepoorlawyer，believingthatfortunecouldnotalwaysforsakehim，saidhehadbutL2000intheworld，butthathewouldsettheL1000。Helost；andbecamealmostfrantic。Inthemidstofhisexcessivegrief，H——esaid，’YouhaveaHORSE，whatisitworth？’L50wastheanswer。’Well，well，youmaywinallbacknow，andI’llsetL50onyourhorse。’

Theybeganagain。Lost！’YouhaveaCOWinyourpaddock，haven’tyou？What’sthatworth？’askedMrH——e。TheattorneysaidL12。’Well，I’llsetthatsumbywayofgivingyouachance。’Thegameproceeded，andthepoorlawyer，equallyunfortunate，ravedandsworehehadlosthislastshilling。’No，no！’saidH——e，’youhavenot:IsawaHAY-RICKinyourground。

Itisofnousenowthatthehorseandcowaregone——whatisthatworth？’L15，repliedtheattorney，withasigh。’IsetL15

then，’saidH——e。

Thisseemedtobe’rathertoomuch’forthelawyer。Thelossofthehay-rick——likethelaststrawlaidontheoverladencamel’sback——staggeredhim。Besides，hethoughthesaw——asdoubtlesshedidsee——H——etwistinghisfingersroundoneofthedice。Uphestartedatonce，anddeclaredthathewascheated！

Thereuponthesickmanforgothissickness，jumpedoutofbed，andgavethelawyeraregulardrubbing，gotthechequefortheL2000，——butthehorse，cow，andhayhesaidhewouldleave’untilfurtherorders。’

AVERYCURIOUSSTORY。

AnArchbishopofCanterburywasonceonatour，whenagenteelman，apparentlyinearnestconversation，thoughaloneinawood，attractedhisnotice。HisGracemadeuptohim，and，afteralittlepreviousconversation，askedhimwhathewasabout。

Stranger。’Iamatplay。’

Archbishop。’Atplay？Withwhom？Iseenobody。’

Sir。’Iown，sir，myantagonistisnotvisible:IamplayingwithGod。’

Abp。’Atwhatgame，pray，sir？’

Str。’AtChess。’

Abp。’Doyouplayforanything？’

Str。’Certainly。’

Abp。’Youcannothaveanychance，asyouradversarymustbesosuperiortoyou。’

Str。’Hetakesnoadvantage，butplaysmerelyasaman。’

Abp。’Whenyouwinorlose，howdoyousettleaccounts？’

Str。’Veryexactlyandpunctually。’

Abp。’Indeed！Pray，howstandsyourgamenow？’

Str。’There！Ihavejustlost！’

Abp。’Howmuchhaveyoulost？’

Str。’Fiftyguineas。’

Abp。’Howdoyoumanagetopayit？DoesGodtakeyourmoney？’

Str。’No！Thepoorarehistreasurers。Healwayssendssomeworthypersontoreceiveit，andyouareatpresenthispurse-bearer。’

Sayingthis，thestrangerputfiftyguineasintohisGrace’shand，andretired，adding——’Ishallplaynomoreto-day。’

Theprelatewasdelighted；thoughhecouldnottellwhattomakeofthisextraordinaryman。Theguineaswereallgood；andthearchbishopappliedthemtotheuseofthepoor，ashehadbeendirected。

Thearchbishop，onhisreturn，stoppedatthesametown，andcouldnothelpgoinginsearchofthechess-player，whomhefoundengagedasbefore，whenthefollowingdialogueensued:——

Abp。’Howhasthechancestoodsincewemetbefore？’

Str。’Sometimesforme——sometimesagainstme。Ihavelostandwon。’

Abp。’Areyouatplaynow？’

Str。’Yes，sir。Wehaveplayedseveralgamesto-day。’

Abp。’Whowins？’

Str。’Theadvantageisonmyside。Thegameisjustover。I

haveafinestroke——check-mate——thereitis。’

Abp。’Howmuchhaveyouwon？’

Str。’Fivehundredguineas。’

Abp。’Thatisalargesum。Howareyoutohepaid？’

Str。’GodalwayssendssomegoodrichmanwhenIwin，andYOU

aretheperson。Heisremarkablypunctualontheseoccasions。’

Thearchbishophadreceivedaconsiderablesumonthatday，asthestrangerknew；andso，producingapistolbywayofreceipt，hecompelledthedeliveryofit。HisGracenowdiscoveredthathehadbeenthedupeofathief；andthoughhehadgreatlybruitedhisfirstadventure，heprudentlykepthisowncounselinregardtothelast。

Suchisthetale。Senoneveroebentrovato。

SKITTLESHARPERS。

’Iknowarespectabletradesman，’saysawriterinCassell’sMagazine——’Iknowhimnow，forhelivesinthehouseheoccupiedatthetimeofmytale——whowassentfortoseeaFrenchgentlemanatatavern，onbusinessconnectedwiththeremovalofthisgentleman’spropertyfromoneoftheLondondocks。Thebusiness，asexplainedbythemessenger，promisingtobeprofitable，heofcoursepromptlyobeyedthesummons，andduringhiswalkfoundthathisconductorhadoncebeeninserviceinFrance。ThisdelightedMrChase——thenamebywhichIsignifythetradesman——forhe，too，hadoncesolivedinFrance；andbythetimehereachedthetavernhehadtalkedhimselfintoaverygoodopinionofhisnewpatron。TheFrenchgentlemanwasveryurbane，gaveMrChasehisinstructions，lethimunderstandexpensewasnottobestudied，and，ashewasatlunch，wouldnotbesatisfiedunlessthetradesmansatdownwithhim。Thiswasagreathonourforthelatter，ashefoundhisemployerwasabaron。Well，theforeignerwasdisposedtopraiseeverythingEnglish；hewasgladhehadcometoliveinLondon——Pariswasnothingtoit；theyhadnothinginFranceliketheEnglishbeer，withwhich，intheexuberanceofhishospitality，hefilledandrefilledMrChase’sglass；butthatwhichdelightedhimaboveallthathehadseen"vosdeleetlegameviddeball——votyoucall——

de——de——aha！deskittel。"MrChaseassentedthatitwasaverynicegamecertainly；andtheFrenchgentlemanseemingbythistimetohavehadquiteenoughbeer，insisted，beforetheywenttothedocks——whichwasessential——thattheyshouldseejustonegameplayed。

’AsheinsistedonpayingMrChaseforallthetimeconsumedwithhim，andashisservant，ofcourse，couldnotobject，thepartyadjournedtothe"SelectSubscriptionGround"atonce。Inthegroundtherewasaquiet，insignificant-lookinglittleman，smokingacigar；andastheyweresofew，hewasaskedtoassist，which，afterconsiderablehesitationandmanyapologiesforhisbadplay，hedid。Theendisofcourseguessed。TheFrenchgentlemanwasafoolishvictim，withmoremoneythanwits，whobackedhimselftodoalmostimpossiblefeats，whenitwasevidenthecouldnotplayatall，andlaidsovereignsagainstthebestplayer，whowasthelittlestranger，doingtheeasiest。Whatwiththeexcitement，andwhatwiththebeer，whichwasprobablyspicedwithsomeunknownrelishalittlestrongerthannutmeg，MrChasecouldnothelpjoininginwinningtheforeigngentleman’smoney；itseemednoharm，hehadsomuchofit。

’Byastrangeconcurrenceofevents，itsohappenedthatbyrandomthrowstheFrenchmansometimesknockedallthepinsdownatasingleswoop，thoughheclearlycouldnotplay——MrChasewassureofthat——whiletheskilfulplayermadeeverynowandthenoneoftheblunderstowhichthebestplayersareliable。Thatthetradesmanlostfortysovereignswillbeeasilyunderstood；

anddidhistaleendhereitwouldhavedifferedsolittlefromahundredothersasscarcelytodeservetelling；butitwillsurprisemany，asitdidme，tolearnthathethenwalkedtoandfromhisownhouse——adistanceofpreciselyamileeachway——fetchedabillforthirtypounds，whichacustomerhadrecentlypaidhim，gotitdiscounted，wentbacktotheskittle-

ground，and，underthesamemalignantstar，lostthewhole。

’Itwastheonlycaseinmyexperienceoftheworkgoingonsmoothlyaftersuchabreak。Inevercouldaccountforit，norcouldMrChase。Greatwasthelatter’sdisgust，onsettingthepolicetowork，tofindthattheFrenchnobleman，hisservant，andthequietstranger，werealldwellerswithinhalfamileorsoofhisownhouse，andslightlyknowntohim——menwhohadtrusted，andverysuccessfully，togreataudacityandwell-

arrangeddisguise。’

Avastdealofgamblingstillgoesonwithskittlesalloverthecountry。AtaplacenottenmilesfromLondon，Iamtoldthatasmuchastwothousandpoundshasbeenseenuponthetableinasingle’alley，’orplaceofplay。Thebetswere，accordingly，veryhigh。Theinstancesrevealedbyexposureatthepolice-

courtsgivebutafaintideaoftheextentofskittlesharping。

Amidstsuchabusesofthegame，itcanscarcelysurpriseusthatthepolicehavebeenrecentlydirectedtoprohibitallplayingatskittlesandbowls。Howevermuchwemayregrettheinterferencewithpopularpastimes，inthemselvesunobjectionable，itisevidentthattheirflagrantabusewarrantsthemoststringentmeasuresinordertopreventtheirconstantlyrepeatedanddismalconsequences。Evenwheremoneywasnotplayedfor，potsofbeerwerethewager——leading，inmanyinstances，tointoxication，orpromotingthishabit，whichisthecauseofsomuchmiseryamongthelowerorders。

CHAPTERII。

PROFESSIONALGAMESTERSANDTHEIRFRAUDS。

Agamblinghouseattheendofthelastcenturywasconductedbythefollowingofficials:——

1。ACommissioner，——whowasalwaysaproprietor；wholookedinofanight，andauditedtheweek’saccountwithtwootherproprietors。

2。ADirector，——whosuperintendedtheroom。

3。AnOperator，——whodealtthecardsatthecheatinggamecalledFaro。

4。TwoCroupiers，orcrow-pees，astheywerevulgarlycalled，whosedutyitwastowatchthecardsandgatherorrakeinthemoneyforthebank。

5。TwoPuffs，——whohadmoneygiventothemtodecoyotherstoplay。

6。AClerk，——whowasacheckonthePuffs，toseethattheysanknoneofthemoneygiventothemtoplaywith。

7。ASquib，——whowasapuffofalowerrank，servingathalfsalary，whilstlearningtodeal。

8。AFlasher，——toswearhowoftenthebankhadbeenstrippedbyluckyplayers。

9。ADunner，——whowentabouttorecovermoneylostatplay。

10。AWaiter，——tofilloutwine，snuffcandles，andattendtheroom。

11。AnAttorney，——whowasgenerallyaNewgatesolicitor。

12。ACaptain，——whowastofightanygentlemanwhomightbepeevishatlosinghismoney。

13。AnUsher，——wholightedthegentlemenupanddownstairs，andgavethewordtotheporter。

14。APorter，——whowasgenerallyasoldieroftheFootGuards。

15。AnOrderly-man，——whowalkedupanddowntheoutsideofthedoor，togivenoticetotheporter，andalarmthehouseattheapproachoftheconstables。

16。ARunner，——whowastogetintelligenceoftheJustices’

meetings。

17。LinkBoys，Coachmen，Chairmen，Drawers，andothers，whobroughtthefirstintelligenceofJustices’meetings，ofconstablesgoingout，athalfaguineareward。

18。CommonBail，AffidavitMen，Ruffians，Bravos，Assassins，&c。

&c。

Itmaybepropertoremarkthattheabovelistofofficialswasonlycalculatedforgamblinghousesofaninferiororder。Intheseitisevidentthatthefearofinterruptionandthenecessityforprecautionpresidedoverthearrangements。Therewereothers，however，whichseemedtodefylaw，tospurnatjustice，andtoremainsecure，ineveryway，bythe’respectability’oftheirfrequenters。Thesewerehousessupportedatanamazingexpense——withinsightofthepalace——

whichwereopeneverynightandallnight——wheremenofthefirstrankweretobefoundgamblingawayimmensesumsofmoney，suchasnoman，whateverhisfortunemightbe，couldsustain。’What，then，’saysawriteratthetime，’aretheconsequences？Why，thattheUNDONEpartofthemselltheirVOTESforbread，andthesuccessfulgivethemforhonours。

’Hewhohasneverseenthegamblers’apartmentsinsomeofthemagnificenthousesintheneighbourhoodofStJames’s，hasneverseenthemosthorridsightthattheimaginationofathinkingmancanconceive。

’Anewpackofcardsiscalledforateverydeal，andthe"old"

onesarethenthrownuponthefloor，andinsuchanimmensequantity，thatthewriterofthisletterhasseenaverylargeroomnearlyANKLE-DEEP，inthegreatestpartofit，byfouro’clockinthemorning！Judge，then，towhatheighttheymusthaverisenbydaylight。’

Itisamelancholytruth，butconfirmedbythehistoryofallnations，thatthemostpoliteandrefinedageofakingdomisneverthemostvirtuous；not，indeed，thatanysuchcomplimentcanbepaidtothatgrossage，butstillitwasrefinedcomparedwiththepast。Thedistinctionsofpersonalmeritbeingbutlittleregarded——inthelowmoraltonethatprevailed——thereneededbuttosupportacertain’figure’inlife(managedbythefashionabletailor)[4]，tobeconversantwithafewetiquettesofgoodbreedingandsentimentsofmodernorcurrenthonour，inordertobereceivedwithaffabilityandcourteousattentioninthehighestcircles。Thevilestsharper，havingoncegainedadmission，wassureofconstantentertainment，fornothingformedagreatercementofunionthanthespiritofHIGHGAMING。Therebeingsolittlecognizancetakenofthegoodqualitiesoftheheartinfashionableassemblies，nowonderthatamidthemedleyofcharacterstobefoundintheseplacesthe’sharper’ofpoliteaddressshouldgaintooeasyanadmission。

[4]’HowshaltTHOUtoCaesar’shallrepair？

For，ah！noDAMAGEDcoatcanenterthere！’

BEATTIE’SMinstrel。

Thisfraternityofartists——whethertheyweretobedenominatedrooks，[5]sharps，sharpers，black-legs，Greeks，orgripes——wereexceedinglynumerous，andweredispersedamongallranksofsociety。

[5]Socalledbecauserooksarefamousforstealingmaterialsoutofotherbirds’neststobuildtheirown。

Thefolliesandvicesofothers——ofopen-heartedyouthinparticular——werethegreatgameorpursuitofthisodiouscrew。

Thoughcoolanddispassionatethemselves，theydidallintheirpowertothrowothersofftheirguard，thattheymightmaketheiradvantageofthem。

Inotherstheypromotedexcessofallkinds，whilsttheythemselvestookcaretomaintaintheutmostsobrietyandtemperance。’Gamesters，’saysFalconer，’whosemindsmustbealwaysonthewatchtotakeadvantages，andpreparedtoformcalculations，andtoemploythememory，constantlyavoidafullmealofanimalfood，whichtheyfindincapacitatesthemforplaynearlyasmuchasaquantityofstrongliquorwouldhavedone，forwhichreasontheyfeedchieflyonmilkandvegetables。’

Asprofit，notpleasure，wastheaimoftheseknightsofdarkness，theylayconcealedunderallshapesanddisguises，andfolloweduptheirgamewithallwarinessanddiscretion。Likewisetraders，theymadeitthebusinessoftheirlivestoexcelintheircalling。

Forthisendtheystudiedthesecretmysteriesoftheirartbynightandbyday；theyimprovedonthescientificschemesoftheirprofoundmaster，Hoyle，andonhisdeepdoctrinesandcalculationsofchances。Theybecameskilfulwithoutarivalwhereskillwasnecessary，andfraudulentwithoutconsciencewherefraudwassafeandadvantageous；andwhilefortuneorchanceappearedtodirecteverything，theypractisednumberlessdevicesbywhichtheyinsuredherultimatefavourstothemselves。

Ofthesenoneweremoreefficacious，becausenonearemoreensnaring，thanbribingtheiryoungandartlessdupestofutureplaybysufferingthemtowinattheirfirstonsets。Byrisingawinnerthedupeimbibedaconfidenceinhisowngamblingabilities，ordeemedhimselfafavouriteoffortune。Heengagedagain，andwasagainsuccessful——whichincreasedhisexultationandconfirmedhisfutureconfidence；andthusdidthesimplegudgeonswallowtheirbait，tillitbecameatlastfasthooked。

Whenrenderedthussecureoftheirprey，theybegantoleveltheirwholetrainofartilleryagainsttheboastedhonoursofhisshort-livedtriumph。Thentheextensivemanors，theancientforests，thepaternalmansions，begantotremblefortheirfuturedestiny。Thepigeonwasmarkeddown，andtheinfernalcrewbeganingoodearnesttopluckhisrichplumage。Thewinkwasgivenonhisappearanceintheroom，asasignalofcommencingtheircovertattacks。Theshrug，thenod，thehem——everymotionoftheeyes，hands，feet——everyairandgesture，lookandword——becameanexpressive，thoughdisguised，languageoffraudandcozenage，bigwithdeceitandswollenwithruin。Besidesthis，thecardwasmarked，or’slipped，’orCOVERED。Thestoryistoldofanotedsharperofdistinction，aforeigner，whosehandwasthrustthroughwithaforkbyhisadversary，CaptainRoche，andthusnailedtothetable，withthiscoolexpressionofconcern——’I

askyourpardon，sir，ifyouhavenottheknaveofclubsunderyourhand。’Thecardswerepacked，orcut，orevenSWALLOWED。A

cardhasbeeneatenbetweentwoslicesofbreadandbutter，forthepurposeofconcealment。

Withwilycraftthesharperssubstitutedtheirdeceitful’doctors’orfalsedice；andthus’crabs，’or’alosinggame，’

becametheportionofthe’flats，’ordupes。

Thereweredifferentwaysofthrowingdice。Therewasthe’Stamp’——whenthecasterwithanelasticspringofthewristrappedthecornetorboxwithvehemenceonthetable，thediceasyetnotappearingfromunderthebox。The’Dribble’was，whenwithanairofeasybutingeniousmotion，thecasterpoured，asitwere，thediceontheboard——when，ifhehappenedtobeanoldpractitioner，hemightsuddenlycogwithhisfore-fingeroneofthecubes。The’LongGallery’waswhenthedicewereflungorhurledthewholelengthoftheboard。Sometimesthedicewerethrownoffthetable，nearaconfederate，who，inpickingthemup，changedoneofthefairforafalsediewithtwosixes。Thiswasgenerallydoneatthefirstthrow，andatthelast，whenthefairdiewasreplaced。Thesixeswereontheoppositesquares，sothatthefraudcouldonlybedetectedbyexamination。Ofcoursethistrickcouldonlybepractisedatraffles，whereonlythreethrowsarerequired。

Apairoffalsedicewasarrangedasfollows:——

{TwofoursOnonedie，{Twofives{Twosixes{TwofivesOntheother，{Twothrees{TwoacesWiththesediceitwasimpossibletothrowwhatisatHazarddenominatedCrabs，oralosinggame——thatis，aces，oraceanddeuce，twelve，orseven。Hence，thecasteralwayscalledforhismain；consequently，ashecouldneitherthrowonenorseven，lethischancebewhatitmight，hewassuretowin，andheandthosewhowereinthesecretofcoursealwaystooktheodds。Thefalsedicebeingconcealedinthelefthand，thecastertooktheboxwiththefairdiceinitinhisrighthand，andintheactofshakingitcaughtthefairdiceinhishand，andunperceivedshiftedtheboxemptytohisleft，fromwhichhedroppedthefalsediceintothebox，whichhebegantorattle，calledhismainseven，andthrew。Havingwonhisstakeherepeateditasoftenashethoughtproper。Hethencaughtthefalsediceinthesameway，shiftedtheemptyboxagain，andthrewtillhethrewout，stillcallingthesamemain，bywhichartificeheescapedsuspicion。

Twogamblingadventurerswouldsetoutwithacertainnumberofsignsandsignals。Theuseofthehandkerchiefduringthegamewasthecertainevidenceofagoodhand。Theuseofthesnuff-

boxasignequallyindicativeofabadone。Anaffectedcough，apparentlyasanaturalone，once，twice，three，orfourtimesrepeated，wasanassuranceofsomanyhonoursinhand。Rubbingthelefteyewasaninvitationtoleadtrumps，——therighteyethereverse，——thecardsthrowndownwithonefingerandthethumbwasasignofonetrump；twofingersandthethumb，twotrumps，andsoonprogressively，andinexactexplanationofthewholehand，withavarietyofmanoeuvresbywhichchancewasreducedtocertainty，andcertaintyfollowedbyruin。[6]

[6]BonTonMagazine，1791。

CHEATINGATWHIST。

Inanoldworkoncardsthefollowingcuriousdisclosuresaremaderespectingcheatingatwhist:——

’Hethatcanbycraftoverlookhisadversary’sgamehathagreatadvantage；forbythatmeanshemaypartlyknowwhattoplaysecurely；orifhecanhavesomepettyglimpseofhispartner’shand。Thereisawaybymakingsomesignbythefingers，todiscovertotheirpartnerswhathonourstheyhave，orbythewinkofoneeyeitsignifiesonehonour，shuttingbotheyestwo，placingthreefingersorfouronthetable，threeorfourhonours。FORWHICHREASONALLNICEGAMSTERSPLAYBEHIND

CURTAINS。

’Dealingthecardsoutbyoneandonetoeachpersonisthebestmethodofputtingitoutofthedealer’spowertoimposeonyou。

ButIshalldemonstratethat，dealthecardswhichwayyouwill，aconfederacyoftwosharperswillbeatanytwopersonsintheworld，thougheversogoodplayers，thatarenotofthegang，orinthesecret，and"THREEpollONE"isassafeandsecureasifthemoneywasintheirpockets。Allwhichwillappearpresently。

ThefirstnecessaryinstructionstobeobservedatWhist，asprincipalsofthesecret，whichmaybelikewisetransferredtomostothergamesatcards，are:——

Brieforshortcards，Corner-bend，Middle-bend(orKingston-bridge)。

’Ofbriefcardstherearetwosorts:oneisacardlongerthantherest，——theotherisacardbroaderthantherest。Thelongsortaresuchasthree，four，five，six，seven，eight，andnine；

thebroadsortaresuchasaces，kings，queens，andknaves。Theuseandadvantageofeachareasfollows:——

’Example:——Whenyoucutthecardstoyouradversary，cutthemlong，orendways，andhewillhaveathree，four，five，six，seven，eight，ornineatbottom。Whenyouradversarycutsthecardstoyou，putthembroadsidetohim，andhewillnaturallycut(withouteversuspectingwhatyoudo)ace，king，queen，orknave，&c。，whichissufficientadvantagetosecureanygame。

’Andincaseyoucannotgetcardsofpropersizesready-madetomixwithothers，youmayshavethemwitharazororpenknifefromthethreestothenineseachside，andfromtheacestotheknaveseachend；thenputthemupinthesamecaseorcover，andiftheyaredoneastheyoughttobe，theywillpassuponanybody。

’AsWhistisatavern-game，thesharpersgenerallytakecaretoputaboutthebottlebeforethegamebegins，soquick，thataBUBBLEcannotbesaidtoseeclearlyevenwhenhebeginstoplay。

’Thenextisthecorner-bend，whichisfourcardsturneddownfinelyatonecorner——asignaltocutby。

’TheotherisvulgarlycalledKingston-bridge，orthemiddle-

bend。Itisdonebybendingyourownoradversary’sTRICKStwodifferentways，whichwillcauseanopening，orarch，inthemiddle，whichisofthesameuseandserviceastheothertwoways，andonlypractisedinitsturntoamuseyou。

’Thenextthingtobeconsideredis，whodealsthecards，youoryouradversary；becausethatisamainpoint，andfromwhenceyouradvantagemustarise。Suppose，forexample，{Sharpers，AandB{

{Partners，{Bubbles，orFlats，CandD{

{Partners。

Afteradealortwoisformallyplayed，AandBwillbegintooperateinthefollowingmanner:——

’WhenAorBistodeal，theyobservethePRECEDINGDEALtotakeupthetricksthus:——

1。Abadcard。2。Agoodcard。

3。Abadcard。4。Agoodcard。

(Meaningthebestandworstthatfallinthatlist)。

’WhenCorDdeals，theymustbetakenupthus:——

1。Agoodcard。2。Abadcard。

3。Agoodcard。4。Abadcard。

’BythisruleitisplainthatthebestcardsfalltoAandB

everydeal。Howisitpossible，therefore，thatCandDshouldeverwinagamewithoutpermission？Butitwouldbedeemedillpolicy，andcontrarytothetrueinterestofAandB，toactthuseverydeal。Iwill，therefore，supposeitispractisedjustwhentheyplease，accordingasbetshappenincompany；thoughtherulewithgamesters，inlowlife，isatthefirstsettingouttostupifyyouwithwineandthelossofyourmoney，thatyoumaynevercometoaperfectunderstandingofwhatyouaredoing。Itmaybetrulysaidthatmanyanhonestgentlemanhasbeenkeptamonthinsuchaconditionbythemanagementandcontrivanceofasetofsharpers。

’NowyoumayimagineitnotinthepowerofAandBtocausethetrickstobetakenupafterthemanneraforesaid:thereisnothingsoeasynorsofrequentlypractised，especiallyatThreepollOne；forinplayingthecardstheconfederateswillnotonlytakecareoftheirowntricks，butalsoofyours，forthecardsmaybesoplayed，andshovedtogetherinsuchamanner，aswillevencauseyoutotakethemrightyourself；andifatrickshouldlieuntowardlyonthetable，AorBwillpayyouthecomplimentoftakingitupforyou，andsay——"Sir，that’syours。"Thisoperationwillthemorereadilybeapprehendedbyseeingitpractisedhalfascoretimes；whenonceyouareawareofit，itwillotherwise(Imaysayfairly)passuponanypersonthathasnotbeenletintothesecret。Thisbeingallowed，thenextpointanddifficultyistoshuffleandcut。

’Isay，thateitherAorBaresuchcuriousworkmen，andcanmakeashamshufflewithapackofcardssoartfully，thatyouwouldbelievetheyweresplittingthem，whenatthetimetheywillnotdisplaceasinglecardfromitsorder！SuchistheSHARPER’S

shuffling。

’Now，tocutthecards，aBENDispreparedforyoutocutto——

themiddleisthebest；anditisoddsbutyouunwarilycuttoit；ifnot，SLIPistheword；butifyouhavenoopportunitytodothatneither，thendealawayatallhazards，itisbutanequalbetthattheycomeinyourfavour；ifright，proceed；ifotherwise，missacardinitscourse，anditbringsthecardsaccordingtoyourfirstdesign；itisbutgivingtwoatlastwhereyoumissed；andifthatcannotbeconvenientlydone，youonlylosethedeal，andthereisanendofit。

’ButwhenAorBistocut，theymakeitallsafe；forthentheymaketheCORNER-BEND，whichanyonethatknowsmaycutto，ahundredtimestogether。

’PipingatWhist。BypipingImean，whenoneofthecompanythatdoesnotplay，whichfrequentlyhappens，sitsdowninaconvenientplacetosmokeapipe，andsolookon，pretendingtoamusehimselfthatway。Now，thedisposingofhisfingersonthepipewhilstsmokingdiscoverstheprincipalcardsthatareintheperson’shandheoverlooks；whichwasalwaysesteemedasufficientadvantagewherebytowinagame。Thereisanothermethod，namely，byutteringwords。"Indeed"signifiesdiamonds；

"truly，"hearts；"uponmyword，"clubs；"Iassureyou，"spades。

Butassoonasthesemethodsbecomeknown，newonesareinvented；

anditismostcuriousthattwopersonsmaydiscovertoeachotherwhatsortofcardstheyhaveinhand，andwhichoughtfirsttobeplayed，manydifferentways，withoutspeakingaword。’

Therecanbenodoubtthattheactofsortingthecardsiscapableofgivinganacuteobserveratolerablyaccurateideaofhispartner’soreitherofhisopponents’hands；sothatwherecheatingissuspecteditwouldbebettertoplaythecardswithoutsortingthem。Thenumberoftimesasortercarriesacardtoaparticularpartindicatessomanyofasuit；yourownhandandhisplaywillreadilyindicatethenatureofthecardsinwhichheiseitherstrongorweak。

InowquoteRobert-Houdin’saccountofCARDTELEGRAPHY。

Althoughthereare32cardsinthegameofPiquet，allofthemmaybedesignatedbytwelvedifferentsigns，namely，eightforthenatureofthecards，andfourforthecolours。

AtEcarte，thenumberofthesignalsisstillless，asitisonlythefiguresthatrequireindication:buttomaketheseindicationsitisnecessarytoexecuteasortofpantomime，accordingtocertainauthors，suchasblowingthenose，coughing，drummingonthetable，sneezing，&c。Suchevolutions，however，aretotallyunworthyofyourmodernGreek，andwouldsoonbedenouncedasgrossfraud。Thesignalswhichheemploysareonlyappreciablebyhisconfederate，——asfollows:——

Ifhelooks1。Athisconfederate，hedesignatesAking。

2。Attheplayofhisadversary……Aqueen。

3。Atthestake……Aknave。

4。Attheoppositeside……Anace。

Andwhilstheindicatesthenatureofthecardsheatthesametimemakesknownthecolourbythefollowingsigns:——

1。Themouthslightlyopen……Hearts。

2。Themouthshut……Diamonds。

3。Theupper-lipslightlypoutingoverthelower……Clubs。

4。Thelower-lipdrawnovertheupper……Spades。

Thus，iftheGreekwishestoannounce，forinstance，theknaveandaceofhearts，hesuccessivelydirectshislooksupontheplayofhisadversary，uponthestake，andtotheoppositeside，whilstkeepinghismouthslightlyopen。

Itisevidentthatthistelegraphymaybeemployedatallgameswherethereisagallery。Ineffect，nothingiseasieratPiquetthantoindicate，bytheaidofthesesignals，thecolourinwhichtheplayershoulddiscardandthatinwhichheshouldkeepwhatcardshehas。

Thesearethesimplestsigns；butsomeoftheGreekshaveagreatnumberofthem，todesignateeverything；andevensometimestocommunicateandreceiveintelligence，whennecessary。Thistelegraphyissoimperceptiblethatitisdifficulttodescribeit，andaltogetherimpossibletodetectit。[7]

[7]TricheriesdesGrecsdevoilees。

Robert-Houdinhasexhaustedthesubjectofcard-trickery，inconnectionwiththatprestidigitationwhich，itseems，allcard-

sharperscultivate，thedescriptionofwhich，however，isbynomeanssoentertainingasthevisibleperformance。Ifind，nevertheless，inhisbook，underthetitleof’SmallTrickeriesmadeinnocentbyCustom，’certainthingsalludedtowhichIcanattestbyexperience。

I。AtWhist，nocommunicationwhatevermustbemadebyaplayertohispartner，exceptingthoseauthorizedbythelawsofthegame；butsomepersonsgofurther，andbytheplayoftheirfeatures’telegraph’totheirpartnersthevalueoftheirhands。

II。AnyonewithagoodmemoryandendowedwithquickperceptionmayformaveryaccurateestimateofthehandsheldbyalltheplayersbyrememberingTHETRICKSASTHEYAREPLAYEDANDTURNED

DOWN——allofasuit，ortrumped。Cards’sticktogether’mostlovingly，andtheordinaryshufflingscarcelyalterstheirsequence；andso，ifatrickhasbeentakenbyanaceoveraking，forinstance，andinthenextdealyougetthesameking，youmaybesurethattheaceiseitheronyourrightoryourleft，accordingtothedeal；ofcourse，ifyougettheace，thenthesameprobability，orrathernecessity，existsastotheking；

andsoon。Knave，queen，king，ace，ofthesamename，arealmostsuretobeseparatedinthedealbetweenthefourplayers，oroneplayerwillhavetwoofthem。Theobservationisataxuponthefaculties；butIamsure，quitesure，thatthethingcanbedone，andis，whendone，ofmaterialservice；although，ofcourse，theknowledgecanbeturnedtoaccountonlybyanexpertplayer，withapartnerwhocanunderstandthegamewhichhewishestoplay。

Whistis，decidedly，oneofthefairestofgames；butforthatveryreason，itisopentothegreatestover-reaching，or，ifyoulike，cheating。

Withregardtodice，ofcourse，theywereand，doubtless，arestillloaded。Suchwereformerlycalled’dispatches，’becausetheywould’infiveminutesdispatchL500outofthepocketofanyyoungmanwhenintoxicatedwithchampagne。’

RouletteandRougeetNoirtableswereandaresoarrangedasalwaystomakethebankwinatthewilloftheattendant，regulatingthemwithatouch。

AtHazard，theyused’loworhighdice，’thatis，withonlycertainnumbersonthem，highorlow，——apairofwhicheverysharperalwayshadinhispossession，changingthemwithgreatdexterity。Theyalsoused’cramped’boxes，bywhichthey’cogged’orfastenedthediceintheboxastheydroppedthemIN，andsocoulddropthemOUTwiththerequiredfaceupwards。

CHAPTERIII。

ANECDOTESOFTHEPASSIONSANDVICISSITUDESOFGAMESTERS。

Althoughallthemotivesofhumanactionhavelongbeenknown——

althoughpsychology，orthescienceofsoulandsentiment，hasceasedtopresentuswithanynewfacts——itisquitecertainthatouredificeofMoralsisnotquitebuiltup。Wemayrestassuredthataslongasintellectualmanexiststheproblemwillbeconsideredunsolved，andthequestionwillbeagitated。Futuregenerationswilldestroywhatweestablish，andwillfashionasomethingaccordingtotheiradvancement，andsoon；foriftherebeatermwhich，ofallothers，shouldbeexpungedfromthedictionariesofallhumanbeings，itseemstobeLordRussell’swordFINALITY。SomethingNEWwillalwaysbewanted。’Sensation’

istheverylifeofhumanity；itismotion——thereverseof’death’——whichweallabhor。

Thegamesterlivesonlyforthe’sensation’ofgaming。Menagetellsusofagamesterwhodeclaredthathehadneverseenanyluminaryabovethehorizonbutthemoon。SaintEvremond，writingtotheCountdeGrammont，says——’Youplayfrommorningtonight，orratherfromnighttomorning。Alltheraysofthegamester’sexistenceterminateinplay；itisonthiscentrethathisveryexistencedepends。Heenjoysnotanhourofcalmorserenity。

Duringthedayhelongsfornight，andduringthenighthedreadsthereturnofday。’

Beingalwayspre-occupied，gamestersaresubjecttoaridiculousabsenceofmind。TacitustellsusthattheEmperorVitelliuswassotorpidthathewouldhaveforgottenhewasaprinceunlesspeoplehadremindedhimofitfromtimetotime。[8]Manygamestershaveforgottenthattheywerehusbandsandfathers。

Duringplaysomeonesaidthatthegovernmentwereabouttolevyataxonbachelors。’ThenIshallberuined！’exclaimedoneoftheplayersabsorbedinthegame。’Why，man，youhaveawifeandfivechildren，’saidthespeaker。

[8]TantatorpedoinvaseratanimumVitellii，utsiprincipemeumfuissenonmeminissent，ipseoblivisceretur。Hist。，lib。iii。

Thisinfatuationmaybesimplyridiculous；butithasalsoahorribleaspect。Adistractedwifehasrushedtothegamingtable，imploringherhusband，whohadfortwoentiredaysbeenengagedatplay，toreturntohishome。

’Onlyletmestayonemomentlonger——onlyonemoment……I

shallreturnperhapsthedayafterto-morrow，’hestammeredouttothewretchedwoman，whoretired。Alas！hereturnedsoonerthanhehadpromised。Hiswifewasinbed，holdingthelastofherchildrentoherbreast。

’Getup，madam，’saidtheruinedgambler，’thebedonwhichyouliebelongstousnolonger！’……

Whenthegamesterisfortunate，heenjoyshissuccesselsewhere；

tohishomehebringsonlyconsternation。

Awifehadreceivedthemostsolemnpromisefromherhusbandthathewouldgamblenomore。Onenight，however，heslunkoutofbed，rushedtothegamingtable，andlostallthemoneyhehadwithhim。Hetriedtoborrowmore，butwasrefused。Hewenthome。Hiswifehadtakentheprecautiontolockthedrawerthatcontainedtheirlastmoney。Vainobstacle！Themadmanbrokeitopen，carriedofftwothousandcrowns——totakehisrevenge，ashesaid，butinrealitytolosethewholeasbefore。

Butitistothegamingroomthatwemustgotobeholdtheprogressoftheterribledrama——theebbandflowofoppositemovements——theshocksofalternatehopeandfear，infinitelyvariedinthecountenance，notonlyoftheactors，butalsoofthespectators。Whatisvisible，however，isnothingincomparisontothesecretagony。Itisinhisheartthatthetempestroarsmostfiercely。

Twoplayersonceexhibitedtheirrage，theonebyamournfulsilence，theotherbyrepeatedimprecations。Thelatter，shockedatthesang-froidofhisneighbour，reproachedhimforenduring，withoutcomplaint，suchlossesoneaftertheother。’Lookhere！’

saidtheother，uncoveringhisbreastanddisplayingitallbloodywithlacerations。

Itisonlyatplaythatwecanobserve，frommomenttomoment，allthephasesofdespair；fromtimetotimethereoccurnewones——strange，eccentric，orterrible。Afterhavinglostquietly，andevenwithserenity，halfhisfortune，thefatherofafamilystakedtheremainder，andlostitwithoutamurmur。

Faceresolentextremasecurosmala。[9]Thebystanderslookedathim；hisfeatureschangednot；onlyitwasperceivedthattheywerefixed。Itseemedthathewasunconsciousoflife。Twostreamsoftearstrickledfromhiseyes，andyethisfeaturesremainedthesame。Hewasliterallyaweepingstatue。Thespectatorswereseizedwithfright，and，althoughgamesters，theymeltedintopity。

[9]’GreatcalamitiesrenderusCARELESS。’

AtBayonne，in1725，aFrenchofficer，inarageatbilliards，jammedabilliard-ballinhismouth，whereitstuckfast，arrestingrespiration，untilitwas，withdifficulty，extractedbyasurgeon。Dusaulxstatesthathewastoldthefactbyalieutenant-general，whowasaneye-witness。

Itiswellknownthatgamblers，likedogsthatbiteastoneflungatthem，haveeatenupthecards，crushedupthedice，brokenthetables，damagedthefurniture，andfinally’pitchedinto’eachother——asdescribedbyLucianinhisSaturnalia。Dusaulxassuresusthathesawanenragedgamblerputaburningcandleintohismouth，chewit，andswallowit。AmadplayeratNaplesbitthetablewithsuchviolencethathisteethwentdeepintothewood；

thusheremained，asitwere，nailedtoit，andsuddenlyexpired。

Theotherplayerstooktoflight；theofficersofjusticevisitedtheplace；andthecorpsewasdeprivedoftheusualceremonyofburial。[10]

[10]GazettedeDeux-Ponts，du26Novembre，1772。

Thefollowingstrangebutapparentlyauthenticfact，isrelatedintheMercureFrancois(TomeI。Annee1610)。

’AmannamedPennichon，beingaprisonerintheConciergerieduringthemonthofSeptember，1610，diedthereofawonderfullysuddendeath。Hecouldnotrefrainfromplay。Havingonedaylosthismoney，heutteredfrightfulimprecationsagainsthisbodyandagainsthissoul，swearingthathewouldneverplayatcardsagain。Nevertheless，afewdaysafter，hebegantoplayagainwiththoseinhisapartment，andonadisputerespectingdiscarding，herepeatedhisexecrableoaths。AndwhenoneofthecompanytoldhimheshouldfeartheDivinejustice，heonlysworethemore，andmadesuchconfusionthattherehadtobeanotherdeal。Butassoonasthreeothercardsweregivenhim，heplacedtheminhishat，whichheheldbeforehim，andwhilstlookingatthem，withhiselbowsonthetableandhisfaceinthehat，hesosuddenlyexpiredthatoneofthepartysaid——"Come，nowplay，"

andpushedhimwithhiselbow，thinkinghewasasleep，whenhefelldowndeaduponthefloor。’

Insomecasestheeffectoflossesatplayissimplystupefaction。Someplayers，attheendofthesitting，neitherknowwhattheydonorwhattheysay。M。deCrequi，afterwardsDucdeLesdiguieres，leavingagamblingpartywithHenryIV。，afterlosingalargesum，metM。deGuiseinthecourt-yardofthecastle。’Myfriend，’saidhetothelatter，’wherearethequartersoftheGuardsnow-a-days？’M。deGuisesteppedback，saying，’Excuseme，sir，Idon’tbelongtothiscountry，’andimmediatelywenttotheking，whomhegreatlyamusedwiththeanecdote。

Adissipatedbuck，whohadbeensittingallnightatHazard，wenttoachurch，notfarfromStJames’s，justbeforethesecondreadingoftheLord’sPrayer，onSunday。Hewasscarcelyseatedbeforehedozed，andtheclerkinashorttimebawledoutAMEN，whichhepronouncedA——main。Thebuckjumpeduphalfasleepandroaredout，’I’llbetthecaster20guineas！’Thecongregationwasthrownintoatitter，andthebuckranout，overwhelmedwithshame。Asimilaranecdoteistoldofanother’dissipatedbuck’

inachurch。ThegrandmasqueradegivenontheopeningoftheUnionClubHouse，inPallMall，wasnotentirelyovertillalatehouronthefollowingSunday。Ayoungmannearlyintoxicated——certainlynotknowingwhathewasabout——reeledintoSt。James’schurch，inhismasqueradedress，withhishaton。ThelateRev。ThomasBracken，attractedbythenoiseofhisentrance，lookeddirectlyathimashechancedtodeliverthefollowingwords:——’Friend！howcamestthouinhither，nothavingonaweddinggarment？’Itseemedsotostriketheculpritthatheinstantlytookoffhishatandwithdrewinconfusion。

Atplay，awinnerredoubleshiscautionandsang-froidjustinproportionashisadversarygetsbewilderedbyhislosses，becomingdesperate；hetakesadvantageoftheweaknessofthelatter，givinghimthelaw，andstrivingforgreatersuccess。

Whentheluckchanges，however，thecaseisreversed，andtheformerloserbecomes，inhisturn，tentimesmorepitiless——likethatRomanprefect，mentionedbyTacitus，whowasthemoreinexorablebecausehehadbeenharshlytreatedinhisyouth，coimmmitiorquiatoleraverat。Thejoyatwinningbackhismoneyonlymakesagamesterthemorecovetousofwinningthatofhisadversary。Awealthymanoncelost100，000crowns，andbeggedtobeallowedtogoandsellhisproperty，whichwasworthdoubletheamounthehadlost。’Whysellit？’saidhisadversary；’letusplayfortheremainder。’Theyplayed；luckchanged；andthelateLOSERruinedtheother。

Sometimesaviditymakesterriblemistakes；many，inordertowinmore，havelosttheiralltopersonswhohadnotashillingtolose。Duringthedepthofaseverewinter，agamesterbeheldwithterrorthebottomofhispurse。Unabletoresolveonquittingthegamingtable——forplayersinthatconditionarealwaysthemoststubborn——heshoutedtohisvalet——’Goandfetchmygreatsack。’Thesewords，utteredwithoutdesign，stimulatedthecupidityofthosewhonolongercaredtoplaywithhim，andnowtheywereeagerforit。Hisluckchanged，andhewonthriceasmuchashehadlost。Thenhis’greatsack’wasbroughttohim:itwasaBEAR-SKINSACKheusedasacloak！

Inthemadnessofgamingtheplayerstakeseverythingafterlosinghismoney——hiswatch，hisrings，hisclothing；andsomehavestakedtheirEARS，andotherstheirveryLIVES——instancesofallwhichwillberelatedinthesequel。

Notverylongagoapublican，wholostallhismoney，stakedhispublic-house，lostit，andhadto’clearout。’Themanwhowonitisaliveandflourishing。

’Thedebtofhonourmustbepaid:’thesearetheterriblewordsthathauntthegamesterashewakes(ifhehasslept)onthemorningafterthenightofhorrors:thesearethefuriesthattakehiminhand，anddraghimtotorture，laughingthewhile……

Whata’sensation’itmustbetoloseone’sALL！Aman，intoxicatedwithhisgains，leftonegaminghouseandenteredanother。Assoonasheenteredheexclaimed，’Well，Iamfilled，mypocketsarefullofgold，andheregoes，ODDSOREVEN？’

’Odds，’criedaplayer。ItwasODDS，andthefortunatewinnerpocketedtheenormoussumjustboastedofbytheother。

Ontheotherhand，suddenprosperityhasderangedmoreheadsandkilledmorepeoplethanreversesandgrief；eitherbecauseittakesalongertimetogetconvincedofutterruinthangreatgoodfortune，orbecausetheinstinctofself-preservationcompelsustoseek，inadversity，forresourcestomitigatedespair；whereas，intheassaultofexcessivejoy，thesoul’sspringisdistendedandbrokenwhenitissuddenlycompressedbytoomanythoughtsandtoomanysensations。Sophocles，Diagoras，Philippides，diedofjoy。AnotherGreekexpiredatthesightofthethreecrownswonbyhisthreesonsattheOlympicgames。

Manyfineintellectsamongplayershavebeenbrutifiedbyloses；

others，ingreaternumber，havebeensobytheirwinnings。Someinthecourseoftheirprosperityperishfromidleness，getderanged，andruinthemselvesafterruiningothers。Aninstanceismentionedofanofficerwhowonsoenormouslythatheactuallylosthissensesincountinghisgains。Astonishedathimself，hethoughthewasnolongeranordinarymortal；andrequiredhisvaletstodohimextraordinaryhonours，flinginghandfulsofgoldtothem。Thesamenight，however，hereturnedtothegaminghouse，andrecoveredfromhismadnesswhenhehadlostnotonlyallhisgains，buteventhevalueofanappointmentwhichheheld。

UNFORTUNATEWINNING。

M。G——mewasamostestimableman，combininginhimselfthebestqualitiesofbothheartandhead。Hewasgood-humoured，witty，andbenevolent。Withthesequalifications，andoneotherwhichseldomoperatestoaman’sdisadvantage——aclearincomeofthreethousandayear——thebestsocietyinPariswasopentohim。Hehadbeenavisitorinthatcapitalaboutamonth，whenhereceivedaninvitationtooneofthesplendiddinnersgivenweeklyatthesalon。Asheneverplayed，hehesitatedabouttheproprietyofacceptingit，butontheassurancethatitwouldnotbeexpectedofhimtoplay；and，moreover，ashemightnotagainhavesogoodanopportunityofvisitinganestablishmentofthekind，heresolvedtogo——merelyforthesatisfactionofhiscuriosity。Hehadafewstraynapoleonsinhispurse，tothrowthem——’justforthegoodofthehouse，’asheconsideredit——

couldhardlybecalledPLAY，sohethrewthem。Poorfellow！Heleftoffawinneroffourteenhundrednapoleons，oraboutasmanypoundssterling——andsoeasilywon！Hewentagain，again，andagain；buthewasnotalwaysawinner；andwithinfifteenmonthsofthemomentwhenhishandfirstgraspedthedice-boxhewaslyingdeadinajail！

LORDWORTHALL’SDESPERATEWAGER。

AtagamblingpartyLordWorthallhadlostallhismoney，andinafitofexcitementstakedhiswholeestateagainstL1000，atcuttinglowwithcards，andincuttingexclaimed，——

’UpnowDeuce，orelseaTrey，OrWorthall’sgoneforeverandaye。’

Hehadthelucktocutthedeuceofdiamonds；andtocommemoratetheseriousevent，hegotthedeuceofdiamondscutinmarbleandhaditfixedontheparapetofhismansion。

THECELEBRATEDTHADDEUSSTEVENS。

Hewasaninveterategamesteronasmallscale，andalmostinvariably，afteraday’sdutyintheHouse，woulddropinatafavouritecasino，andwinorlosefiftydollars——thatbeingtheaveragelimitofhisbetting。

APROVIDENTGAMBLER。

AMonsieurB——，wellknowninParisianlife，havingrecentlylosteveryshillingatacertainsportingclubwhereplayiscarriedoninParis，wenttothecountry，wherehissisterlenthimL150。

Hewonallbackagain，andgotaconsiderablesumofmoneyinhand。Hethenwenttohishotel，tohisbootmaker，andtailor，paidthem，andmadearrangementstobefed，clothed，andshodfortenyears。

AMAGNIFICENTFORTUNEWASTED。

LordFoley，whodiedin1793，enteredupontheturfwithanestateofL18，000perannum，andL100，000readymoney。Heleftwitharuinedconstitution，anencumberedestate，andnotashillingofreadymoney！

ANENTERPRISINGCLERK。

LordKenyon，in1795，triedaclerk’formisapplyinghismaster’sconfidence，’andthefactswereasfollows。HewentwithabanknoteofL1000toagaminghouseinOsendonStreet，wherehewonalittle。HealsowontwohundredguineasatanotherinSuffolkStreet。Henextaccompaniedsomekeepersofathirdhousetotheirtables，wherehelostaboveninehundredpounds。Heplayedtherealmosteverynight；andfinallylostaboutL2500！

GAMBLINGFORRECRUITSFORTHEARMY。

AnIrishofficerstruckoutamodeofgambling，forrecruits。Hegavefiveguineasbounty，andonehundredtoberaffledforbyyoungrecruits，——thewinnertobepaidimmediately，andtopurchasehisdischarge，ifhepleased，forL20。Thedice-boxwasconstantlygoingathisrecruitingofficeinDublin。

DOUBLINGTHESTAKES。

Adashingyoungmanoflargefortune，abouttheyear1820，lostatasubscriptionhouseattheWestEnd，L80，000。Thewinnerwasapersonofhighrank。Theyoungman，however，bydoublingthestakes，notonlyrecoveredhislosses，butinhisturngainedconsiderablyofhisantagonist。

ANANNUITYFORAGAMBLINGDEBT。

AfashionablenoblemanhadwonfromayoungandnoblerelativethesumofL40，000。Thecashnotbeingforthcoming，heacceptedanannuityofL4000。

SIRWILLIAMCOLEPEPPER。

ItistoldofSirWilliamColepepperthat，afterhehadbeenruinedhimselfatthegamingtable，hiswholedelightwastositthereandseeothersruined。Hardenedwretch——’Whothoughheplaysnomore，overlooksthecards’——withthisdiabolicaldisposition！

THEBITERBITTEN。

Acertainduchess，ofaci-devantlord-lieutenant，whoexpectedtomakeapigeonofMarshalBlucher，wasfleecedofL200，000；topaywhichherlordwasobligedtosellagreatpartofhisproperty，andresideonthecontinent。

HUNTEDDOWN。

Astout-heartedandgallantmilitarybaronetlostanimmensesumatacelebratedgaminghouse；butwassofortunateastorecoverit，withL1200more。ThislastsumHEPRESENTEDTOTHEWAITERS。

Hewaspursuedbytwoofthe’play-wrights’toanorthernwatering-place，wherehewassopluckedthatallhispossessionswerebroughttothehammer。Acompetencywas，however，savedfromthemagnificentwreck。

COMINGOFAGE。

WhenSirC——T——，aweakyoungman，withalargefortune，cameofage，theGreeks，thinkinghimanexcellentquarry，wenttoYorkRaces，madehimdrunkandplunderedhimofalargesum。Thenextmorningoneofthepartywaiteduponhimtoacquainthimofhisloss——(L20，000orL30，000)，andbroughtbondsforhissignaturetothatamount！

HEAVYLIABILITIESTOBEGINWITH。

Intheyear1799，whentheMarquisofDonegalsucceededtothetitleonhisfather’sdeath，hisdebts，principallytogamblersandmoney-lenders，amountedtotwohundredandfiftythousandpoundssterling！

AGENTLEMANTURNEDBARBER。

InanoldmagazineIfindthefollowingcuriousstatement:——

’ThereisnowlivinginBarnabyStreet，CarnabyMarket，amanwho，althoughexercisingthemenialofficeofpennybarber，wasinhisyoungerdaysinpossessionofestatesandpersonalpropertytoalargeamount，andistheonlylinealdescendantremainingoftheveryancientfamilyoftheH——sofBristol。

’Hisrelationsdyingwhenhewasyoung，hewasplacedunderproperguardians，andreceivedaliberaleducation，firstatWestminster，andafterwardsatCambridge，suitabletohisrankandfortune。Whenofageheconvertedhisestatesintomoney，andretiredtoDublin，whereheremainedsometime。HethenmadethetourofEurope，andreturnedtoIreland，wherehewentthroughallthescenesofdissipationtowhichyoungmenaresomuchaddicted，tillatlasthewasbesetbythoseharpiesthegamblers，andstrippedofhisimmensefortuneinonesinglenight！

’Hethensubsistedforsomelittletimeonthebountyofhisundoers，whointendedtomakehimoneofthem；but，nothavingsufficientaddressfortheprofession，hewasdismissedand"leftinthelurch；"andmostofhisfriendsdiscardinghim，heembarkedwithhislastguineaforEngland。Herehehasencounteredmanydifficulties，oftenbeeningaolfordebt，andpassedthroughvariousscenesoflife，asvalet，footman，thief-

taker，andatlength，apenny-barber！Hehasawifeandlargefamilyandlivesinaverypenuriousmanner，oftenlamentinghisearlyfolly。’[11]

[11]’TheWesternCountyMagazine，1791。ByaSocietyofGentlemen。’Thiswell-conductedoldmagazinewasprintedandpublishedatSalisbury，andwasdecidedlyacredittothetownandcounty。

PENSIONEDOFFBYAGAMINGHOUSE。

AvisitoratFrascati’sgaminghouseinParistellsus:——

’IsawtheChevalierdelaC——(adescendantoftheoncecelebratedromance-writer)whenhewasnearlyninety。Themodeoflifeofthisoldmanwassingular。Hehadlostaprincelypropertyattheplay-table，andbyapieceofgoodfortuneofrareoccurrencetogamesters，andunparalleledgenerosity，theproprietorsofthesalonallowedhimapensiontosupporthiminhismiserablesenility，justsufficienttosupplyhimwithawretchedlodging——bread，andachangeofraimentonceineverythreeorfouryears！Inadditiontothishewasallowedasupper——whichwas，infact，hisdinner——atthegaminghouse，whitherhewenteverynightatabouteleveno’clock。Tillsupper-time(twoo’clockinthemorning)heamusedhimselfinwatchingthegamesandcalculatingthevariouschances，althoughincapableofplayingasinglecoup。Atfouro’clockhereturnedtohislodging，retiredtobed，andlaytillbetweennineandteno’clockonthefollowingnight。Acupofcoffeewasthenbroughttohim，and，havingdressedhimself，attheusualhourheagainproceededtothesalon。Thishadbeenhisroundoflifeforseveralyears；andhetoldmethatduringallthattime(exceptingonafewmorningsaboutMidsummer)hehadneverbeheldthesun！’