eplied the false Belgian
ironically.
'That is too much, sir. I demand satisfaction, and that on the very
instant. Do you understand me? Let us go out at once.'
'No! no! We must end this quarrel here, sir. Look here--your two friends
shall be your "seconds;" I am now going to send for MINE.'
The card-sharper, who had risen at these words, rang the bell violently.
His own servant entered. 'Go,' said he, 'to the Procureur de Roi, and
request him to come here on a very important matter. Be as quick as you
can.'
'Oh, sir, be merciful! Don't ruin me!' exclaimed the wretched Olivier;
'I will do what you like.' At these words, the sharper told his servant
to wait behind the door, and to execute his order if he should hear
nothing to the contrary in ten minutes.
'And now, sir,' continued the sharper, turning to Olivier, 'and
now, sir, for the business between you and me. These cards have been
substituted by you in the place of those which I supplied . . . You must
do them up, write your name upon the cover, and seal it with the coat of
arms on your ring.'
Olivier looked first at Chauvignac and then at Chaffard, but both the
fellows only made signs to him to resign himself to the circumstances.
He did what was ordered.
'That is not all, sir,' added the false Belgian; 'I have fairly won
money from you and have a right to demand a guarantee for payment. You
must draw me short bills for the sum of one hundred thousand francs.'
As the wretched young man hesitated to comply with this demand, his
pitiless creditor rose to ring the bell.
'Don't ring, sir, don't ring,' said Olivier, 'I'll sign.'
He signed, and the villany was consummated. Olivier returned to his
family and made an humble avowal of his fault and his engagements. His
venerable father received the terrible blow with resignation, and paid
the 100,000 francs, estimating his honour far above that amount of
money.(3)
(3) This narrative is condensed from the account of the affair by
Robert-Hondin, Tricherics des Grecs devoilees.
AN ATTORNEY 'DONE' BY A GAMBLER.
A turfite and gambler, represented under the letters of Mr H--e, having
lost all his money at Doncaster and the following York Meeting, devised
a plan, with his coadjutor, to obtain the means for their departure from
York, which, no doubt, will be considered exceedingly ingenious.
He had heard of an attorney in the town who was very fond of Backgammon;
and on this simple piece of informat
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