cards, and four for the colours.

At Ecarte, the number of the signals is still less, as it is only the
figures that require indication: but to make these indications it is
necessary to execute a sort of pantomime, according to certain authors,
such as blowing the nose, coughing, drumming on the table, sneezing, &c.
Such evolutions, however, are totally unworthy of your modern Greek, and
would soon be denounced as gross fraud. The signals which he employs are
only appreciable by his confederate,--as follows:--

If he looks

1. At his confederate, he designates A king.

2. At the play of his adversary . . . A queen.

3. At the stake . . . . . . . . . . . A knave.

4. At the opposite side . . . . . . . An ace.

And whilst he indicates the nature of the cards he at the same time
makes known the colour by the following signs:--

1. The mouth slightly open . . . . . Hearts.

2. The mouth shut . . . . . . . . . . Diamonds.

3. The upper-lip slightly pouting
over the lower . . . . . . . Clubs.

4. The lower-lip drawn over the
upper . . . . . . . . . . . Spades.

Thus, if the Greek wishes to announce, for instance, the knave and
ace of hearts, he successively directs his looks upon the play of his
adversary, upon the stake, and to the opposite side, whilst keeping his
mouth slightly open.

It is evident that this telegraphy may be employed at all games where
there is a gallery. In effect, nothing is easier at Piquet than to
indicate, by the aid of these signals, the colour in which the player
should discard and that in which he should keep what cards he has.

These are the simplest signs; but some of the Greeks have a great number
of them, to designate everything; and even sometimes to communicate
and receive intelligence, when necessary. This telegraphy is so
imperceptible that it is difficult to describe it, and altogether
impossible to detect it.(7)

(7) Tricheries des Grecs devoilees.

Robert-Houdin has exhausted the subject of card-trickery, in connection
with that prestidigitation which, it seems, all card-sharpers cultivate,
the description of which, however, is by no means so entertaining as the
visible performance. I find, nevertheless, in his book, under the title
of 'Small Trickeries made innocent by Custom,' certain things alluded to
which I can attest by experience.

I. At Whist, no communication whatever must be made by a player to his
partner, excep