ting those authorized by the laws of the game; but some
persons go further, and by the play of their features 'telegraph' to
their partners the value of their hands.

II. Any one with a good memory and endowed with quick perception may
form a very accurate estimate of the hands held by all the players by
remembering THE TRICKS AS THEY ARE PLAYED AND TURNED DOWN--all of a
suit, or trumped. Cards 'stick together' most lovingly, and the ordinary
shuffling scarcely alters their sequence; and so, if a trick has been
taken by an ace over a king, for instance, and in the next deal you get
the same king, you may be sure that the ace is either on your right or
your left, according to the deal; of course, if you get the ace, then
the same probability, or rather necessity, exists as to the king; and
so on. Knave, queen, king, ace, of the same name, are almost sure to be
separated in the deal between the four players, or one player will have
two of them. The observation is a tax upon the faculties; but I am sure,
quite sure, that the thing can be done, and is, when done, of material
service; although, of course, the knowledge can be turned to account
only by an expert player, with a partner who can understand the game
which he wishes to play.

Whist is, decidedly, one of the fairest of games; but for that very
reason, it is open to the greatest over-reaching, or, if you like,
cheating.

With regard to dice, of course, they were and, doubtless, are still
loaded. Such were formerly called 'dispatches,' because they would
'in five minutes dispatch L500 out of the pocket of any young man when
intoxicated with champagne.'

Roulette and Rouge et Noir tables were and are so arranged as always to
make the bank win at the will of the attendant, regulating them with a
touch.

At Hazard, they used 'low or high dice,' that is, with only certain
numbers on them, high or low,--a pair of which every sharper always had
in his possession, changing them with great dexterity. They also used
'cramped' boxes, by which they 'cogged' or fastened the dice in the box
as they dropped them IN, and so could drop them OUT with the required
face upwards.

CHAPTER III. ANECDOTES OF THE PASSIONS AND VICISSITUDES OF GAMESTERS.

Although all the motives of human action have long been known--although
psychology, or the science of soul and sentiment, has ceased to present
us with any new facts--it is quite certain that our edifice of Morals is
not quite