.

At gay _roulette_ was never met
A lance like mine for _bleeding_!
I'm ne'er _at fault_, at nothing halt,
All other _legs_ preceding.
To all awake,
I never shake
A _mag_[105] unless I nip it.

_Blind-hookey_ sees how well I squeeze
The _well-packed_ cards in shuffling.
Ecarte, whist, I never missed,
A nick the _broads_[106] while ruffling.
Mogul or loo,
The same I do,
I am down to trumps as trippet!

_French hazard_ ta'en, _I nick the main_,
Was ne'er so prime a _caster_.
No _crabs_ for me, I'm fly, d'ye see;
The bank shall change its master.
Seven _quatre_, _trois_,
The stakes are high!
Ten _mains_! ten _mains_ are mine, pals!

At _Rouge et Noir_, you _hellite_[107] choir
I'll make no bones of stripping;
One glorious _coup_ for me shall _do_,
While they may deal each _pip_ in.
_Trente-un-apres_
Ne'er clogs my way;
The game--the game's divine, pals.

At billiards set, I make my bet,
I'll _score_ and win the _rub_, pals;
I miss my _cue_, my _hazard_, too,
But yet my foe I'll drub, pals.
That _cannon-twist_,
I ne'er had missed,
Unless to suit my views, pals.

To make all right, the match look _tight_,
This trick, you know, is done, pals;
But now be gay, I'll _show_ my play--
Hurrah! the game is won, pals.
No hand so fine,
No wrist like mine,
No odds I e'er refuse, pals.

Then choose your game; whate'er you name,
To me alike all offers;
Chic-hazard, whist, whate'er you list,
Replenish quick your coffers.
Thus, rat-a-tat!
I _land_ my _flat_!
To every purse I _speak_, pals.

_Cramped boxes_ 'ware, all's right and fair,
_Barred balls_ I _bar_ when goaded;
The deuce an ace is out of place!
The deuce a die is _loaded_!
Then make your game,
Your color name;
Success attend the _Greek_, pals.

"Bravo, Jerry--bravissimo!" chorused the party.

"And now, pals, farewell!--a long farewell!" said Dick, in a tone of
theatrical valediction. "As I said before, the best fri