Part 25 (2/2)
He should invite large parties to dine with him frequently, and have a particular sort of wine for particular companies. He should likewise be able to swallow a tolerable quant.i.ty of the juice of the grape himself, as well as know how to appear as if he were drinking, when he is merely pa.s.sing the bottle, and so manage it pa.s.sing, as to seem drunk at proper times. When good opportunities present themselves for the exercise of his art, and when a hit is really to be made, he should positively refuse to suffer play of any kind in his house, alleging that he has seen enough of it, and cut the concern. This serves to increase the desire for it in others. On any decisive occasion, when a train is known to be well laid, he should appear to be drunk before any one of the party; in which case he should take care beforehand to instruct his decoy to pluck the pigeon, while he, as a supposed observer, is betting with some one in the company, (of course an accomplice) and is also a loser.
”Greeks, who know each other, are enabled to convey information by means of private signals, without uttering a word, and consequently without detection. At whist, or other games on the cards, fingers are admirable conveyancers of intelligence, and by dexterous performers ~194~~are so managed, as to defy the closest scrutiny, so as to have the natural appearance of pliancy, while, among the _knowing ones_, their movements are actually deciding the fate of a rubber.”
”Egad!” said Mortimer, ”you seem to understand the business so well, I wonder you don't open shop.”
”My knowledge,” continued Sparkle, ”is but theoretical. I cannot boast of much practical information, for it is long since I shook the lucky castor.”
”O, then, you are discontented because you have no luck.”
”Not so,” said Sparkle, ”for I never play very deep, so that, win or lose, I can never suffer much; but I am willing to give information to others, and with that view I have detailed the nature of the houses and the general character of their frequenters, according to my own conception of them. The _Levanter_ is a _Black-leg_, who lives by the _broads_{l} and the _turf_,{2} and is accustomed to work as it were by _telegraph_{3} with his pal; and if you take the broads in hand in their company, you are sure to be work'd, either by glazing, that is, putting you in the front of a looking-gla.s.s, by which means your hand is discovered by your antagonist, or by private signals from the pal. On the turf he will pick up some n.o.bleman or gentleman, who he knows is not _up to the rig_--bet him fifty or a hundred on a horse--pull out his pocket-book--set down the name, and promise to be at the stand when the race is over; but takes care to be seen no more, unless he is the winner, which he easily ascertains by the direction his pal takes immediately on the arrival of the horses. But hold, we must dismiss the present subject of contemplation, for here we are at the very scene of action, and now for ocular demonstration.”
No. 40, now 32, Pall Mall, was the place of destination, a house well known, said, in Koubel's time, to be more _a la Francaise_, and of course more of a gambling-house, than any other of the same description in London. The former were good judges of their business, and did things in prime order; but, if report say true, the new Establishment
1 Broads--A cant term for cards.
2 Turf--A cant term for horse-racing.
3 Telegraph--To work the telegraph, is to impart information by secret signs and motions, previously concerted between the parties.
~195~~has completely eclipsed their precursors: it is now conducted wholly by aliens--by Frenchmen!!! who are said to have realized 80,000L.
within a very short s.p.a.ce of time; and that a certain n.o.bleman, whose name is not Dormouse, has serious reason to remember that he has been a visitor.
These concerns are considered of so much importance, and are found to be so very productive, that regular co-partners.h.i.+ps are entered into, the business is conducted almost with the precision of a mercantile establishment; all kinds of characters embark in these speculations, and rapid fortunes are to be made by them; this alone ought to deter young men from play, since it sufficiently indicates how much the chances are in favour of the tables. But many high and n.o.ble names resort to them.
”There's N--g--nts proud Lord, who, to angle for pelf, Will soon find the secret of diddling himself; There's Herbert, who lately, as knowing one's tell, Won a tight seven hundred at a House in Pall Mall.
Captain D--v--s, who now is a chick of the game, For altho' in high feather, the odds will soon tame; And the Marquis of Bl--ndf--rd, who touch'd 'em up rare For a thousand in Bennet Street (all on the square); There's Li--d and C--m--ck, who'd a marine to be, For none drills a guinea more ably than he; There's a certain rum Baronet, every one knows, Who on Sat.u.r.day nights to the Two Sevens{1} goes,
With J---- and Cl----, Billy W---- and two more, So drunk, that they keep merry h.e.l.l in a roar.
Long D--ll--n, their C--rt--r, a son of a gun; Bill B----, the Doctor, that figure of fun;
Bankers, Dealers and Demireps, Cuckolds in droves, A T--l--r, a T--nf--Id, a Cr--kf--Id, and CI--ves; A H--rtf--rd, a Y--rm--th, of frail ones ten score; X--ft--e, S--br--gt and E--ll--s, and still many more.”
”Come along,” said Merrywell, ”let us see what they are made of; are either of you known? for Cerberus, who keeps the door, is d----d particular, in consequence of some rows they have recently had, and the devil is careful to pick his customers.”
”To pluck them, you mean,” said Tom; ”but perhaps you are in possession of the pa.s.s-word--if so, lead on.”
1 The _Two Sevens_--A nick-name for the well-known house, No. 77, Jermyn Street.
~196~~Tallyho had already heard so much about h.e.l.ls, Gambling-houses, and Subscription-houses, that he was all anxiety for an interior view, and the same feeling animated Mortimer. As they were about to enter, they were not a little surprised to find that houses which are spoken of so publicly, have in general the appearance of private dwellings, with the exception that the hall-door is left ajar during the hours usually devoted to play, like those of trap-cages, to catch the pa.s.sing pigeons, and to obviate the delay which might be occasioned by the necessity of knocking--a delay which might expose the customers to the glances of an unsuspecting creditor--a confiding father, or a starving wife; and, as Merrywell observed, ”It was to be understood that the entrance was well guarded, and that no gentleman could be permitted to risk or lose his money, without an introduction.” A very necessary precaution to obviate the danger of being surprised by the officers of the law; but that rule is too easily to be broken, for any gentleman whom the door-keeper has sufficient reason to think is not an Officer of Justice, finds the avenues to these labyrinths too ready for his admission.
[Ill.u.s.tration: page196 A Modern h.e.l.l]
On pa.s.sing the outer-door, they found themselves impeded by a second, and a third, and each door constructed with a small spy-hole, exhibiting the ball of a ruffian's eye, intently gazing on and examining their figures. It is necessary to observe, that if the visitor is known to be a fair pigeon, or an old crow, he is at once admitted by these gentlemen, and politely bowed up stairs; and as Merrywell appeared to be well known, no obstruction was offered, and they proceeded through the last, which was an iron door, and were shewn directly into the room, which presented a scene of dazzling astonishment.
On entering, they discovered the votaries of gaming around an oblong table, covered with green cloth, and the priests of the ceremony in the centre, one to deal cards and decide events, and another to a.s.sist him in collecting the plunder which should follow such decisions. Being engaged in the play, but little notice was taken of the arrival of the party, except by two or three eagle-eyed gentlemen, who, perceiving there were some _New-comes_{1}
1. Newcomes--The name given to any new faces discovered among the usual visitants.
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