CHARLOT, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _the executioner_. His official title is “Monsieur de Paris.” Soubrettes de ----, _the executioner’s assistants_, literally _his lady’s maids_. An allusion to “la toilette,” or cropping the convict’s hair and cutting off his shirt collar a few minutes before the execution. (Thieves’) Charlot, _thief_; ---- bon drille, _a good-natured thief_. See GRINCHE. CHARMANT, _adj._ (thieves’), _scabby_. CHARMANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _itch_. CHARMER (popular), les puces, _to get drunk_. See SCULPTER. CHAROGNEUX, _adj._ (familiar), roman ----, _filthy novel_. CHARON, CHARRON, _m._ (thieves’). See CHARRIEUR. CHARPENTER (playwrights’), _to write the scheme of a play_. CHARPENTIER, _m._ (playwrights’), _he who writes the scheme of a play_. CHARRETÉE, _f._ (popular), en avoir une ----, _to be quite drunk, to be_ “slewed.” See POMPETTE. CHARRIAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _swindle_; ---- à l’Américaine _is a kind of confidence trick swindle_. It requires two confederates, one called “leveur” or “jardinier,” whose functions are to exercise his allurements upon the intended victim without awakening his suspicions. When the latter is fairly hooked, the pair meet--by chance of course--with “l’Américain,” a confederate who passes himself off for a native of America, and who offers to exchange a large sum of gold for a smaller amount of money. The pigeon gleefully accepts the proffered gift, and discovers later on that the alleged gold coins are nothing but base metal. This kind of swindle goes also by the names of “vol à l’Américaine,” “vol au change.” Charriage à la mécanique, or vol au père François, takes place thus: a robber throws a handkerchief round a person’s neck, and holds him fast half-strangled on his own back while a confederate rifles the victim’s pockets. Charriage au coffret: the thief, termed “Américain,” leaves in charge of a barmaid a small box filled to all appearance with gold coin; he returns in the course of the day, but suddenly finding that he has lost the key of the box, he asks for a loan of money and disappears, leaving the box as security. It goes without saying that the alleged gold coins are nothing more than brand-new farthings. Charriage au pot, another kind of the confidence trick dodge. One confederate forms an acquaintance with a passer-by, and both meet with the other confederate styled “l’Américain,” who offers to take them to a house of ill-fame and defray all expenses, but who, being fearful of getting robbed, deposits his money in a jug or other receptacle. On the way he suddenly alters his mind, and sends the victim for the sum, not without having exacted bail-money from him as a guarantee of his return, after which both scamps make off with the fool’s money. Swindlers of this description are termed “magsmen” in the English slang. CHARRIER (thieves’), _to swindle one out of his money by misleading statements_. See CHARRIAGE.