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The Sharper Detected and Exposed by Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin
Chapter 1 MODERN GREEKS.
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.
Let me in the first place explain to my readers, why the compatriots of Homer and Plato have been thus honoured, or rather dishonoured, and how it comes that the word "Greek" has, in our day, become synonymous with rascal or knave.
The following are the facts:-
Towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV., a certain Chevalier of Greek origin, named Apoulos, was admitted into the Court circle, where he played with such success, and won so largely, that suspicions were aroused as to the fairness of his play.
His dexterity was astonishing; but one day he was taken "flagrante delicto," and condemned to the galleys for a period of twenty years.
The circumstance made a great noise at the time, and, ever since, similar rogues have been termed "Greeks."
Shakspeare asks, "What's in a name?" There is, however, a French proverb which tells us that, "Souvent ce sont les noms qui décident des choses." Many who did not object to be called "Greeks," would have loathed the name of "swindler."
The number of these light-fingered gentry was greatly increased, by the establishment in Paris of two public gambling houses, known as the H?tel de Gèvres, and H?tel de Soissons.
Until then, the Greeks exercised their vocation separately; most of them had no arranged method of proceeding, and their tricks were nearly all badly executed.
In fact, the art of cheating was still in its infancy.
The opening of the two hotels above mentioned, caused a complete revolution amongst the Greeks. The cleverest amongst them met, invented new man?uvres, and clubbed together to cheat their neighbours; they imagined, calculated, and invented, all sorts of tricks until then unknown.
Lansquenet, Pharo, Piquet, and Quadrille were the favourite games of that period, and being much in vogue, were golden mines of wealth to these rascals.
The game of roulette, even, which had just been introduced into the fashionable hells, and which the public believed they could play without fear, was tampered with by this fraternity.
One of them, who was a geometrician, had a roulette board made, in which the black divisions were larger than the white ones, so that the chance of the ball entering the latter was diminished.A
To arrange all this, it was necessary to have an understanding with the attendants at these hells; but this was not difficult, as most of them were scamps.
The number of Greeks in Paris increased at length to such an extent, that they were at a loss for dupes.
This state of things, however, did not last long. Reckoning on the weakness of human nature, these men knew, that the number of dupes in the world is without limit, and that they will never fail you, if you only know how to profit by the weakness of the human heart.
They organised a band of emissaries or agents, whom they despatched in all directions, to discover and attract-1st, All strangers newly arrived in the capital; 2nd, Barristers coming out of court after having gained a suit; 3rd, Successful gamblers who had won to a large amount; 4th, Heirs to large estates; 5th, Imprudent clerks and foolish youths, who would stake their last farthing.
With such auxiliaries, the Greeks again realised immense profits; but their doings created so much scandal, that upon a representation made by the police, Louis XV. ordered both the H?tels de Gèvres and de Soissons to be closed, and renewed the former stringent regulations against all games of chance.
Even this measure did not disconcert the Greeks; they opened low gambling-houses, and played in secret.
The police were again put on their track, and waged fearful war against them.
Constant trials, imprisonment of proprietors, and the conviction of a host of swindlers, alarmed the dupes, whose fears began to be awakened, so that they dared no longer frequent these establishments.
Thus followed and routed, the Greeks dispersed in all directions, rushed into the provinces and foreign countries, to return, after a time, to their former home in the capital; when the Government, in urgent want of money, established Frascati, and the rival houses in the Palais Royal. Over the doors of these institutions ought to have been inscribed "ici on trompe de bonne foi," or in other words, "Here they take in all comers."
The enormous sums lost by the public, all the chances of which had beforehand been cleverly calculated, produced an immense revenue to the State, and considerable profits to the owners of the tables.
The Government shut its eyes to these knavish proceedings, until forced to take notice of them by the clamours of the public, who would not submit to be thus openly robbed.
Roulette and other gambling games were again prohibited, and, with them, the whole gang of sharpers for whom these games had always been a centre of attraction, appeared also to vanish. I say the gang seemed to vanish, for, if roulette has been banished from France, the Greeks have unfortunately by no means ceased to reside there. But where are they to be found?
Their numerous dupes know too well. They have learnt to their cost, that these insatiable birds of prey are always to be found wherever there is money to be got.
But you will ask, "How are they to be recognised?"
There is the difficulty; for these heroes of the criminal courts are now become more clever than ever. Forced to mix in society, they know the necessity of being perfect in their unlawful occupation, in order to escape the punishment which the law has in store for them.
However difficult it is to recognise them, we will endeavour to point them out to all honest men; so that they may know them, if not by their faces, at least by some characteristic signs, but especially by a revelation of the tricks to which these men usually have recourse.
Taken collectively, the "Greeks" present no peculiarity of type. It would be difficult to sketch their features, so numerous and varied are they. I think it best, therefore, to characterise them by dividing them into three categories.
1st. The aristocratic Greek, or sharper of the fashionable world.
2nd. The Greek of the middle classes.
3rd. The Greek of the low gambling houses.
"Honour to whom honour is due;" so let us begin with the first on our list.
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Chapter 1 MODERN GREEKS.
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Chapter 2 THE GREEK OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.
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Chapter 3 THE GREEK OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES.
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Chapter 4 THE GREEK OF THE TRIPOT.
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Chapter 5 A GREEK TAKEN IN THE FACT.
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Chapter 6 THE GAMBLER RAYMOND.
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Chapter 7 EDIFYING HISTORY OF A GREEK.
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Chapter 8 SECRET GAMBLING-HOUSES.
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Chapter 9 No.9
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Chapter 10 THE DOCTOR DUPED.
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Chapter 11 THE PASTE RING.
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Chapter 12 THE FALSE CUT.
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Chapter 13 TO CHANGE A CARD.
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Chapter 14 THE ABSTRACTED CARD.
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Chapter 15 THE CARD REPLACED.
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Chapter 16 THE CARTE A L' IL, OR GLANCE.
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Chapter 17 THE SUBSTITUTION DES JEUX, OR PACK OF CARDS CHANGED.
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Chapter 18 THE FALSE SHUFFLE.
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Chapter 19 DOCTORED CARDS.
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Chapter 20 THE CHAPLET, OR ROSARY.
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Chapter 21 THE RING FOR MARKING.
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Chapter 22 THE REFLECTING SNUFF-BOX.
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Chapter 23 APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING PRINCIPLES.
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Chapter 24 ENTERTAINING TRICKS.
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Chapter 25 MINOR CHEATS OF MEN OF THE WORLD.
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