But the time arrives, when these gentlemen commence their real game.
They are seated at an écarté-table.
Raymond is playing. At first, to prevent suspicion, he loses several games, and resigns his hand, which, however, when the play is animated and the stakes high, he takes up again.
Andréas is betting on the opposite side, but his bets are so trifling, that it will make little difference to the pair, even should he lose.
This artful accomplice takes up a standing position, behind his victim, and opposite his friend. With his hands behind his back, he seems as if he cared very little about the game. But all the time, he is paying the greatest attention, and working his secret telegraph for the benefit of Raymond.
I will endeavour to explain, in a few words, this formidable system of trickery.
THE SECRET TELEGRAPH.
The number of cards required in the game of Piquet is thirty-two; now all these thirty-two cards, may, by this system, be pointed out by twelve signals, that is to say, eight for the value of the cards, and four for the suits.
At Écarté, the number of signals is still less, as it is only requisite to designate the numbers.
But to make these signals, it is not necessary, as stated by some authors, to use any exaggerated signs, such as to cough, sneeze, blow the nose, or beat a tattoo on the table. They must have a very low estimate of the Greek, if they suppose him capable of these palpable evolutions.