There are numerous other tricks in which no second party is required, and which are all contained in the general rules I have laid down.
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Again, I have sometimes heard it observed, that a Greek cannot exercise his vocation in the higher class of clubs, as they are so strictly watched.
He will certainly not venture, in these réunions, in the midst of a crowd of lookers on, all more or less interested in the game, to sauter la coupe, filer la carte, &c., &c. But, can he not have recourse to other deceptions, where there is no danger of discovery?
The marked cards, for example: can he not bribe a servant, by offering him half the profits, to let him have the packs of cards before giving them to the players?
The telegraph also is equally available, even before the most critical observers.
The Greek of fashionable life has sufficient tact and finesse to cope with any situation, however difficult, in which he may be placed; and when he makes up his mind to cheat, he generally succeeds.
If he does not venture on sleight of hand in public, he makes use of it in small parties, where the players are not conspicuous for their intelligence and perspicacity.
Far be it from me to say, that wherever there are players, there must be rogues; on the contrary, I believe that in many clubs such a character is unknown; still, that is no reason that sooner or later a Greek might not gain entrance there, and exercise his infamous vocation.