banker he leans negligently over the table, and in this position
his fingers are as close as possible to the prepared cards,
termed _portees_. At the proper moment he seizes the cards
and places them on the pack. The trick is rendered very easy by
the fact that the card-sharper has his coat buttoned at the top,
so that the lower part of it lies open and permits the
introduction of the hand, which is completely masked.

Some sharpers are skilful enough to take up some of the matches
already dealt, which they place in their _costieres_, or side-
pockets above described, in readiness for their next operation;
others keep them skilfully hidden in their hand, to lay them, at
the convenient moment, upon the pack of cards. By this means,
the pack is not augmented.[92]


[92] Robert Houdin, `Les Tricheries des Grecs devoilees.'


In France the stakes commence at 5 francs; and it may be easily
imagined how soon vast sums of money may change hands if the
players are determined and reckless.


EUCHRE.


This is also a game much played in the States. I suppose it is a
Yankee invention, named by one of their learned professors, from
the Greek (eucheir), meaning `well in the hand '