set of sharpers.

'Now you may imagine it not in the power of A and B to cause the
tricks to be taken up after the manner aforesaid: there is
nothing so easy nor so frequently practised, especially at Three
poll One; for in playing the cards the confederates will not only
take care of their own tricks, but also of yours, for the cards
may be so played, and shoved together in such a manner, as will
even cause you to take them right yourself; and if a trick should
lie untowardly on the table, A or B will pay you the compliment
of taking it up for you, and say--"Sir, that's yours." This
operation will the more readily be apprehended by seeing it
practised half a score times; when once you are aware of it, it
will otherwise (I may say fairly) pass upon any person that has
not been let into the secret. This being allowed, the next point
and difficulty is to shuffle and cut.

'I say, that either A or B are such curious workmen, and can make
a sham shuffle with a pack of cards so artfully, that you would
believe they were splitting them, when at the time they will not
displace a single card from its order! Such is the SHARPER'S
shuffling.

'Now, to cut the cards, a BEND is prepared for you to cut to--
the middle is the best; and it is odds but you unwarily cut to
it; if not, SLIP is the word; but if you have no opportunity to
do that neither, then deal away at all hazards, it is but an
equal bet that they come in your favour; if right, proceed; if
otherwise, miss a card in its course, and it brings the cards
according to your first design; it is but giving two at last