The Sharper Detected and Exposed

LING HOUSES

Imperceptible signs-The business of the Comtois-The coup de retraite

at length, that, as the number of Greeks increased, the number of victims lessened, they determined on starting a clandestine hell of their own

of recruiting for dupes, and dr

or some time, but, one fine day, they pe

r having been cleaned out by the masters of the place, took their

ction with "la Pompadour," whose admirer and devoted slave he had become, had started a sort of class, for men who had

s with concealing their disgust, and paying him off in his own coin. They decided to quit Paris; and, giving as a reason, their wish to explore the watering and bathing places

gues invented and arranged, the

ongst Greeks, and called "le Service," which is neither mo

he way their schem

towards some watering place, which i

him. He arrives; goes to the best hotel, and passes himse

ndlers, that that fact alone would raise suspicion. Indeed, the names of Russian princes and rich English families, are now so w

ins golden opinions from the persons around him. After dinner, he joins his new friend

to say, he watches the play of his future victims, and never attempts a coup, until the arrival of his associ

n not to know one another; they even

ne or two bets, as if he did not care much whether he won or lost, and refu

when these gentlemen c

ated at an

s several games, and resigns his hand, which, however, when

is bets are so trifling, that it will make lit

ith his hands behind his back, he seems as if he cared very little about the game. But all the tim

n, in a few words, this fo

RET TEL

hese thirty-two cards, may, by this system, be pointed out by twelve signal

is still less, as it is only re

ted signs, such as to cough, sneeze, blow the nose, or beat a tattoo on the table. They must h

erformances. Unfortunately for the dupes, the signals he

e to judge for themselves, by t

nfederate

ciate, he m

of his adve

stakes

posite si

lls the card, he also tells the

h slightly

uth shut

ightly projecting o

projecting beyond

e knave, and the ace of hearts; he looks successively, at the cards of his adversary, a

t in requisition wherever there are spectators. In fact, nothing is more easy at piquet, tha

and easiest signs; but I may add, that some sharpers have a large, and varied

erceptible, that it is difficult to de

r four runs of luck, he loses and leaves the table, according to the i

plice has taken care to double his bets, and thus to

ght of hand trick, which, in many instances, they rendered still mo

t to be acquainted with one another, and even looked at each other with cool indifferenc

tfully contrived that the one who had the deal, and held the cards, should

would also manage, to hand over the four queens to one of their vic

efore, could not be suspected, as

*

ple there, were rich and prosperous, and the harvest was abundant; though it was rather lessened by their gains being s

pause to say

, the reader will, naturally enough, conceive, that in the end,

probate class never prospers; on an average, out of every

t exception, are men whose debauchery a

per thrifty and economical. They are all dissolute,

f the future, and live in extravagant luxury. They have horses, carriages, mistresse

they themselves have created, sometimes sigh for the excitement caused by real play. To obtain it, they rush to the roulette or rouge