As profit, not pleasure, was the aim of these knights of
darkness, they lay concealed under all shapes and disguises, and
followed up their game with all wariness and discretion. Like
wise traders, they made it the business of their lives to excel
in their calling.

For this end they studied the secret mysteries of their art by
night and by day; they improved on the scientific schemes of
their profound master, Hoyle, and on his deep doctrines and
calculations of chances. They became skilful without a rival
where skill was necessary, and fraudulent without conscience
where fraud was safe and advantageous; and while fortune or
chance appeared to direct everything, they practised numberless
devices by which they insured her ultimate favours to themselves.

Of these none were more efficacious, because none are more
ensnaring, than bribing their young and artless dupes to future
play by suffering them to win at their first onsets. By rising a
winner the dupe imbibed a confidence in his own gambling
abilities, or deemed himself a favourite of fortune. He engaged
again, and was again successful--which increased his exultation
and confirmed his future confidence; and thus did the simple
gudgeon swallow their bait, till it became at last fast hooked.

When rendered thus secure of their prey, they began to level
their whole train of artillery against the boasted honours of his
short-lived triumph. Then the extensive manors, the ancient
forests, the paternal mansions, began to tremble for their future
destiny. The pigeon was marked down, and the infernal crew began
in good earnest to pluck his rich plumage. The wink was given on