“What is it?”
“All the cards have private marks on the back, which cannot be seen by the naked eye; but his spectacles magnify I have found out, and, therefore, when he looks across the table he can see what cards I hold in my hand.”
“Oh! the cunning old devil!”
“Yes; isn’t he? But in this game we are going to play to-night I have made a promise that he shan’t be allowed to wear his spectacles.”
“Then you are certain to win. What a capital idea.”
“Yes, isn’t it? Those gentlemen brought me there to-night to fleece old Gingles.”
“But he won from you all the time.”
“Yes, true,” said Alick, grinning; “but that was the ‘dodge,’ in order to give him courage.”
“I see it all plainly enough now.”
“Very well; and now that I have told you this important secret, will you give me shares in your winnings?”