uinze-et-le-va and the
trente-et-le-va intoxicate them.'

Of course there were frauds practised at Basset by the talliere, or
banker, in addition to his prescriptive advantages. The cards might be
dealt so as not to allow the punter any winning throughout the pack;
and it was in the power of the dealer to let the punter have as many
winnings as he thought convenient, and no more!

It is said that Basset was invented by a noble Venetian, who was
punished with exile for the contrivance. The game was prohibited by
Louis XIV., in 1691, and soon after fell into oblivion in France,
although flourishing in England. It was also called Barbacole and Hocca.

FARO, OR PHARAOH.

Although both Basset and Faro were forbidden in France, on severe
penalties, yet these games still continued in great vogue in England
during the 18th century, especially Faro; for the alleged reasons that
it was easy to learn, that it appeared to be very fair, and, lastly,
that it was a very quiet game. It was, however, the most dangerous game
for the destruction of families ever invented. The Faro bankers seem to
have employed some 'gentlemen' to give a very favourable report of the
game to the town, and so every one took it upon trust without further
inquiry. Faro was the daughter of Basset--both alike notorious frauds,
there being no one, except professed gamblers, who could be said to
understand the secrets of these games.

Faro was played with an entire pack of cards, and admitted of an
indeterminate number of players, termed 'punters,' and a 'banker.' Each
player laid his stake on one of the 52 cards. The banker held a similar
pack, from which he drew cards, one for himself, placed on the right,
and the other, called the carte anglaise, or English card, for the
players, placed on the left. The banker won all the money staked on the
card on the right, and had to pay double the sums staked on those on
the left. Certain advantages were reserved to the banker:--if he drew
a doublet, that is, two equal cards, he won half of the stakes upon the
card which equalled the doublet; if he drew for the players the last
card of the pack, he was exempt from doubling the stakes deposited on
that card.

Suppose a person to put down 20s. upon a card when only eight are in
hand; the last card was a cipher, so there were four places to lose, and
only three to win, the odds against being as 4 to 3. If 10 cards only
were in, then it was 5 to 4 against the player; i