This trick very much resembles the preceding one, only that it is done in presence of the dupe.
Each time that a card which will be favourable to his play, passes through the hands of the Greek, he makes a small dent with his nail on the edge of it. This mark is easily felt by the Greek.
It must be confessed, that those amongst the Greeks who are adepts at this trick, have an extreme delicacy of touch, which they preserve by always wearing gloves, when they are not playing at cards. Some of them even rub the ends of their fingers with pumice stone, or dip them in certain acids, which give extreme sensibility to the skin.
PART VII.
THE "ONDULÉES," OR WAVY CARDS.
The above marks, or waves, are also made whilst playing.
When the Greek observes any cards, which will suit him to perform the trick he is about to play, he makes, at the bottom of the left-hand corner, a little fold, or arch, inwards. This alteration, be it ever so slight, produces a kind of lustre on the card, which the eye of the Greek can immediately detect.
This trick is generally employed in cheating at Piquet. The Greek, in this way, marks all the aces and high cards in any of the suits.
With certain arts of legerdemain, which I have before alluded to, he can so arrange all, or part, of his hand, that no play of his adversary, be it ever so good, could stand against it.
PART VIII.
THE "TAROTÉES," OR FIGURED OR CHECQUERED CARDS.
It often happens that, in packs of playing-cards, the backs of which are ornamented with figures and designs, these ornaments are not placed exactly in the same spot on each card.