at Go, alias Watiers, in
Piccadilly; after which we can sup in Crockford's pandemonium among
parliamentary pigeons, unfledged

5 A tats man, a proficient with the bones, one who knows
every chance upon the dice.

6 A decoy, who seduces the young or inexperienced to the
gaming table, and receives a per centage upon their losses.

~212~~ ensigns of the guards, broken down titled legs, and ci-devant
bankers, fishmongers, and lightermen; and here comes the very fellow
to introduce us--an old college chum, Charles Rattle, who was expelled
Brazennose for smuggling, and who has since been pretty well plucked by
merciless Greek banditti and Newmarket jockeys, but who bears his losses
with the temper of a philosopher, and still pursues the destructive vice
with all the infatuation of the most ardent devotee." "How d'ye do,
old fellows?--how d'ye do? Who would have thought to have met the
philosopher (pointing to me) at such a place as this, among the impures
of both sexes, legs and leg-ees? Come to sport a little blunt with the
table or the traders, hey! Heartly? Always suspected you was no puritan,
although you wear such a sentimental visage. Well, old fellows, I am
glad to see you, however,--come, a bottle of Champagne, for I have just
cast off all my real troubles--had a fine run of luck to-night--broke the
bank, and bolted with all the cash. Just in the nick of time-off for
Epsom to-morrow--double my bets upon the Derby, and if the thing comes
off right, I'll give somebody a thousand or two to tie me up from
playing again above five pounds stakes as long as I live. The best thing
you ever heard in your life--a double to do. Ned C-----d having heard I
had just received a few thousands, by the sale of the Yorkshire acres,
planned it with Colonel T----- to introduce me to the new club, where a
regular plant was to be made, by some of his myrmidons, to clear me out,
by first letting me win a few thousands, when they were to pounce upon
me, double the stakes, and finish me off in prime style, fleecing me out
of every guinea--very good-trick and tie, you know, is fair play--and
for this very honest service, my friend, the colonel, was to receive a
commission, or per centage, in proportion to my losses: the very last
man in the world that the old pike could ~213~~ have baited for in that
way--the colonel's down a little, to be sure, but not so low as to turn
confederate to a leg--so suppressed his indignation