The Sharper Detected and Exposed

n ball-The card room-A lucky player-Sauter la c

one is tempted to ask, how is it that they are s

is generally clever, cunning, artful, and circumspect;

n a private house, they would probably be content with making him disgo

lways knows how to manage the affair

cumstance I was m

et, on the spot now occupied by the Chambre des Notaires, a very large r

was a cow suckling her calf. This very primitive allegory was meant to express, that

ent for one or two people, or a grand wedding dinner, the table wa

essors of physiology say), I

ook it into their heads to give a subscription ball, and sel

a mixed character. Out of three hundred persons present, scarcely a dozen knew each

play. In this instance, close to the ballroom, was a s

e of the

n a small piece of silver at cards, and only play, until the sum I intend to venture is

strategetical calculations, the inconstant goddess had quickly put m

a great dancer, I feared, in spite of my philosophy, that my partners might perceive that I was out of

ears of age one is s

where they were playing, with a malicious intention of consoling myself, by loo

on the table, and all eyes, riveted on the preci

e playin

was most unfortunate; he had lo

Wishing to be strictly impartial, I resolved to make him some a

e pair of thick "blondes moustaches." He wore a blue coat, buttoned up to the throat, which gave him a military air; this,

y, whilst collecting and dealing the cards, kept alluding to his

y for me, played a diamond instead of a spade, I should hav

t at some of the tricks of the Greeks, and their way of discoursing on the game. It

I might be deceived in my conjectures. The game was played with the most

eserved. A false move which he made, put me on the scent, and I now felt sur

n of the secret of these man?uvres, I took t

suspicions, I made friends with my conscience, a

d selecting those which he thought would be of use to him. Then classing them in the most natural ma

es, I pi

ned to my better self. Laying aside my admiration, I resolved

our commissaries of police, named Brissard, whom I knew

k is not imprudent enough to go on winning the whole evening), and when, after being successful e

attendance. I have not the honour of know

-" (at the same time mentioning a well-known name), "to one of your colleagues, who gave me a most favourable reception. However, sir,

istaken, was on the point of apologising, but on a sign from me, he followed the Gr

t we had great diffic

ent. In vain did we look for him in the room. We soon fou

oak room, "the fugitive must be bare-headed, he has not had

ge of the hats and cloaks, "has a gentleman with

, s

e of the last hat which is no

t on to the

you just seen a

ll man, with bi

and he was b

he pulled out an opera hat from und

rrangements beforehand," s

*

bout this time, several circumstances occurred, which turned my thoughts from all worldly pleasures. On the other hand, it was repugnan

because it serves as a sort of introduction to a

, we must allow for a