"In my own interest, in order not to be a pigeon! They play _biribi_, _table-basse_, _jarretières_, _trois noix_, and sometimes _loto_; but the first three are played most. The game of _jarretières_, you know, consists in sticking a pin into the edge of a piece of cloth. The man who runs the game always uses the skirt of his frock-coat. If I had one on, I'd show you how it's done. He lifts up one corner, presses it very tight, and holds it out to you in such a way that to stick a pin into the edge seems to be the simplest thing in the world." "Well?" "But not much; because the _croupier_, when he picks up the hem of his coat, is smart enough to turn it under; so that you always stick your pin into the middle of the cloth when you think you're sticking it into the edge." "I'd stick it into his ugly mug!--And _table-basse_, what's that?" "You see a little table with a lot of little, numbered holes. They hand you a dicebox, with some balls; you throw the balls on the table at random, and they roll into the holes; then they add up the numbers and give you the prize corresponding to the total. The big prizes are never won; you never get the silver watch, the piece of plate, or the drinking cup, that they show to entice you; but a flint and steel, or a save-all--that's all your twenty sous ever wins." "Very pretty, indeed! a choice lot they must be! But what did you mean just now when you sung out: 'I've got it! I know how it's done!'" "Oh! that's the most popular of all the games--_biribi_." "_Biribi?_" "I'll show you that; you play it with just three cards, see; and one of 'em's _biribi_. Look, the ace of hearts! Now, to win, all you have to do is guess where _biribi_ is. But the _croupier's_ skill consists in always showing you the under card, and that is always _biribi_; then he moves his cards this way and that, and you think you can follow it with your eyes. Like this: now, follow the ace of hearts, follow it carefully; do you know which of the three it is now?" Sans-Cravate, who had kept his eyes on the cards, placed his hand on one of them, saying: "This is the ace of hearts." "How much do you bet?" "A glass of beer." "Done!" Jean Ficelle turned the card and showed his wondering comrade that it was not _biribi_. Sans-Cravate was stupefied. Jean Ficelle repeated the trick twice, and won two more glasses of beer. "Are you a sorcerer?" cried the other.