The "Comtois" and "Amazones"—Tricks and frauds—An heir expectant—Game at bouillotte—A rich pocket-book—The bill to pay—Dupers duped.
The Greek of the middle classes, otherwise termed the nomad Greek, on account of his ubiquity, is a sort of chain or link between the aristocratic sharper, and him of the low gambling houses. This chain is of great length, and unites, by almost imperceptible gradations, the two extremes in this world of filibusters.
The nomad Greek seldom works alone, he is in league with accomplices called "comtois."
These are for the most part other Greeks, whose reputation is higher than that of their associates. But, according to circumstances, these respectable individuals take it by turns to play the role of "comtois."
These gentlemen, besides their accomplices, have female assistants called "Amazones."
These women are, for the most part, very pretty and attractive, and are equally, if not more, vicious than their lords and masters.
In those attractive snares to the unwary and to foreigners, known under the name of clubs, these "Amazones" perform the office of decoys.
The wiles and tricks of these women will not bear analysis, and could not be described here. Suffice it to say, that, like the simple larks which a fowler attracts and blinds by means of a revolving mirror, the imprudent and unwary visitors, fascinated by the seductions of these sirens, become an easy prey, and stupidly allow themselves to be plucked by the hunters of these prairies.
The nomad Greek cannot boast of the wit and good manners of his colleague of the fashionable world, neither has he that finesse in executing his tricks, which renders detection difficult. But he is not the less clever in the manipulation of the different means of cheating.
Cards, dice, and dominoes, are all, in his hands, most formidable instruments of his profession.