e), could reckon up 30 in
hand, when his antagonist reckoned nothing, scored 90 for them; this was
called a repic; and all above 30 counted so many,--32 counting 92, and
so on. He who could make up 30, part in hand and part by play, before
the other made anything, scored 60; this was called a pic.

The game was also played as pool precisely according to the rules
briefly sketched as above, the penalty for losing being a guinea to the
pool.

Piquet required much practice to play it well. It became so great a
favourite that, by the middle of the 18th century, the meanest people
were well acquainted with it, and 'let into all the tricks and secrets
of it, in order to render them complete sharpers.' Such are the words
of an old author, who adds that the game was liable to great imposition,
and he explains the methods in use. Short cards were used for cutting,
as in Whist, at the time. Of these cards there were two sorts, one
longer than the rest; and the advantage gained by them was as the
adversary managed it, by cutting the longer or broader, as best suited
his purpose, or imposing on the dealer, when it was his turn, to cut
those which made most against him. The aces, kings, queens, and knaves
were marked with dots at the corners, and in the very old book from
which I am quoting precise directions are given how this marking can be
effected in such a manner 'as not to be discovered by your ADVERSARY,
and at the same time appear plain to YOURSELF.' With a fine pointed pen
and some clear spring water, players made dots upon the glazed card at
the corners according to the above method; or they coloured the water
with india ink, to make the marks more conspicuous. The work concludes
as follows:--'There are but 32 cards made use of at Piquet, so that
just half of them will be known to you; and in dealing you may have
an opportunity to give yourself those you LIKE best; and if you cannot
conveniently CHANGE the PACK according to your desire, you will commonly
KNOW what YOU are to TAKE IN, which is a demonstrative advantage to win
any one's money.'

Evidently they did not 'assume a virtue' in those days, 'if they had it
not.'

BASSET.

The game of Basset (in French Wassette) was considered one of the most
polite games with cards, and only fit for persons of the highest rank
to play at, on account of the great losses or gains that might accrue on
one side or the other.

The sums of money lost in France at this game were s