his was and doubtless still is the special card-game of our London
sharpers. Many of these are men who have run through a fortune in the
early part of their lives, by associating with gamblers and sharpers,
set up for themselves, set honour and conscience at defiance, become
blacklegs, and are scouted out of even the gambler's company; and, as
a last resource, are obliged to resort to low pot-houses, robbing the
poorest and most ignorant of society.

Behind the dupe there stood a confederate sharper, looking over the
novice's hand, and telling his opponent, by his fingers, what cards he
holds--hence he was said to work the telegraph, of which more in the
sequel. Another confederate plied the novice with drink.

'The game of Put is played with an entire pack of cards, generally
by two, and sometimes by four persons. At this game the cards rank
differently from all others; a trey being the best, then a two, then
an ace, then the king, queen, &c. The game consists of five points.
The parties cut for deal, as in Whist. The deal is made by giving three
cards, one at a time, to each player. The non-dealer then examines his
cards, and if he thinks them bad, he is at liberty to PUT them upon the
pack, and his adversary scores one point to his game. This, however,
should never be done. Either party saying--"I put," that is, I play,
cannot retract, but must abide the event of the game, or pay the stakes.

'The THREE being the best card, if the sharper can make certain of
having a three every time his opponent deals, he must have considerably
the best of the game; and this is effected as follows:--the sharper
places a three underneath an old gentleman (a card somewhat larger and
thicker than the rest of the pack), and it does not signify how much
his opponent shuffles the pack, it is about five to one that he does not
disturb the OLD GENTLEMAN or the three. The sharper then cuts the cards,
which he does by feeling for the old gentleman; the three being then the
top card, it is dealt to the sharper by his opponent. That is one way of
securing a three, and this alone is quite sufficient to make a certainty
of winning.'(67)

(67) Doings in London.

CROSS AND PILE.

Cross and Pile, so called because anciently English coins were stamped
on one side with a cross, now bears the names, Head and Tail, and is
a pastime well known among the lowest and most vulgar classes of the
community, and to whom it is now confined; formerly, how