ay require; nay, in desperate
cases, such us peaching, &c. he should not object even to assassination.
He should invite large parties to dine with him frequently, and have a
particular sort of wine for particular companies. He should likewise be
able to swallow a tolerable quantity of the juice of the grape himself,
as well as know how to appear as if he were drinking, when he is merely
passing the bottle, and so manage it passing, as to seem drunk at proper
times. When good opportunities present themselves for the exercise
of his art, and when a hit is really to be made, he should positively
refuse to suffer play of any kind in his house, alleging that he has
seen enough of it, and cut the concern. This serves to increase the
desire for it in others. On any decisive occasion, when a train is known
to be well laid, he should appear to be drunk before any one of the
party; in which case he should take care beforehand to instruct his
decoy to pluck the pigeon, while he, as a supposed observer, is betting
with some one in the company, (of course an accomplice) and is also a
loser.

"Greeks, who know each other, are enabled to convey information by means
of private signals, without uttering a word, and consequently without
detection. At whist, or other games on the cards, fingers are admirable
conveyancers of intelligence, and by dexterous performers ~194~~are
so managed, as to defy the closest scrutiny, so as to have the natural
appearance of pliancy, while, among the _knowing ones_, their movements
are actually deciding the fate of a rubber."

"Egad!" said Mortimer, "you seem to understand the business so well, I
wonder you don't open shop."

"My knowledge," continued Sparkle, "is but theoretical. I cannot boast
of much practical information, for it is long since I shook the lucky
castor."

"O, then, you are discontented because you have no luck."

"Not so," said Sparkle, "for I never play very deep, so that, win or
lose, I can never suffer much; but I am willing to give information to
others, and with that view I have detailed the nature of the houses
and the general character of their frequenters, according to my own
conception of them. The _Levanter_ is a _Black-leg_, who lives by the
_broads_{l} and the _turf_,{2} and is accustomed to work as it were by
_telegraph_{3} with his pal; and if you take the broads in hand in their
company, you are sure to be work'd, either by glazing, that is, putting
you in the front