De ce machin sur ma jambe.
A. de Chatillon.
[Bande], Properly cushion of billiard table. Coller sous ——, to get one in a fix, in a “hole.”
Bande d’air, f. (theatrical), frieze painted blue so as to represent the sky.
[Bande noire], f., a gang of swindlers who procure goods on false pretences and sell them below their value, “long firm.”
La Bande Noire comprises four categories of swindlers working jointly: “le courtier à la mode,” who, by means of false references, gets himself appointed as agent to important firms, generally wine merchants, jewellers, provision dealers. He calls on some small tradesmen on the verge of bankruptcy, denominated “petits faisans,” or “frères de la côte,” and offers them at a very low price merchandise which they are to dispose of, allowing him a share in the profits. The next step to be taken is to bribe a clerk of some private information office, who is thus induced to give a favourable answer to all inquiries regarding the solvency of the “petit faisan.” The courtier à la mode also bribes with a like object the doorkeeper of his clients. At length the goods are delivered by the victimized firms; now steps in the “fusilleur” or “gros faisan,” who obtains the merchandise at a price much below value—a cask of wine worth 170 francs, for instance, being transferred to him at less than half that sum—the sale often taking place at the railway goods station, especially when the “petit faisan” is an imaginary individual represented by a doorkeeper in confederacy with the gang.—Translated from the “République Française” newspaper, February, 1886.
Bander (popular), la caisse, to abscond with the cash-box. Properly to tighten the drum; —— l’ergot, to run away, “to crush.”
Bannette (popular), apron.
Bannière, f. (familiar), être en ——, to be in one’s shirt, in one’s “flesh bag.”
Banque, f. (popular), falsehood, imposition, “plant.” (Hawkers’) La ——, the puffing up of goods to allure purchasers; the confraternity of mountebanks. (Showmens’) Truc de ——, password which obtains admission to booths or raree-shows. (Printers’) Banque, pay. La —— a fouaillé expresses that pay has been deferred. Etre bloqué à la ——, or faire —— blèche, to receive no pay.