The novice examined the cards with great attention, but not being an adept in the art, failed to discover anything.
"You observe nothing in this hand of cards?" said Chauvignac. "They have, however, been subjected to a process that we call biseautage,[H] or having one end made narrower than the other. This system shows the player what cards he is to retain, and how to class them, in the order he requires for playing."
Chauvignac, joining precept to example, showed his friend the way it was to be done.
"Now," added he, "to prove to you that this trick is not difficult, I will make you do it yourself. Let us sit down at this table, and suppose we are playing for a thousand francs."
Although Olivier had no great talent for sleight of hand, he succeeded in learning from his friend how to gain the whole of the five tricks, twice running, at écarté.
"This trick," said Chauvignac to him, "is one of the first, as well as the most easy, in the art of cheating. In a little while, I shall teach you how to play with prepared cards, and you will, in time, I hope, become an accomplished philosopher."
Olivier made no reply, his mind was in a perfect state of chaos, from the thousand and one thoughts which filled it.
The tempter, judging his victim to be now sufficiently compromised, left him to the temptations which he had suggested to him. He made the excuse of having some visits to pay, and the two friends separated.
Two days afterwards the Professor went to see his pupil.
"Would you like to join me," asked he, "in a little tour of pleasure I am about to make?"