Chapter XLVIII: Part IV: A Game at écarté

In which the Adversary loses a Bet he has made, judging from what he
has already seen of the Hand of the Dealer.

Put on the top of the pack the following eleven cards:

1. The queen of hearts.
2. The ace of hearts.
3. The king of hearts.
4. The knave of hearts.
5. The ten of hearts.
6. The nine of hearts.
7. The king of diamonds.
8. The seven of hearts.
9. The seven of clubs.
10. The seven of spades.
11. The eight of hearts.

Then make a false shuffle, a false cut, and deal by twos and threes.

The cards by this manoeuvre will be thus divided:

THE DEALER.

The king of hearts.
The knave of hearts.
The seven of hearts.
The seven of spades.
The seven of clubs.

THE ADVERSARY.

The queen of hearts.
The ace of hearts.
The ten of hearts.
The nine of hearts.
The king of diamonds.

The turn-up card is the eight of hearts.

"Oh! good Heavens!" you exclaim, laying down your trio of sevens on the table, "what dreadful cards!" But you are careful not to display the king and knave of hearts.

"But, notwithstanding" (you continue), "I have such luck, that even with this bad hand I may win the game after all."

Your adversary, knowing the splendid hand he holds, falls into the trap, and bets largely that he will make the point. He plays with confidence, but let him play as he will, he cannot help losing three tricks, as two of his trumps must fall to your small cards, and your seven of trumps will prevent his winning with the king of diamonds. You still have in your hand what is vulgarly called the "_fourchette_," or alternate cards, to win the game with.