A vast field of investigation would lie before us if, in tracing out the detailed history of these numerous variations, we were to endeavour to distinguish and settle the different causes which gave rise to them. One fact must certainly strike any one devoting himself to such inquiry; he would see that, in contradistinction to the changes which have affected the personages on the cards and their names, a continuous state of stability has been the characteristic of the four suits in the French cards or the piquet-pack, which were adopted from the very commencement, and that no attempt has ever been made against their arrangement and nature. _Cœur_ (hearts), _carreau_ (diamonds), _trèfle_ (clubs), and _pique_ (spades)--these were the divisions established by La Hire or Chevalier, and they are still faithfully maintained in the present day, although at various times endeavours have been made to define their symbolical signification. For a long time the opinion of Father Menestrier was the prevalent one; that “hearts” were an emblem of the clergy or the choir (_chœur_); “diamonds,” of the citizens, who had their rooms paved with square tiles; “clubs,” of labourers; and “spades,” of military men. But Menestrier was in egregious error. A much clearer view of the matter was taken by Father Daniel, who, like all sensible interpreters, recognising in cards a game of an essentially military character, asserted that “hearts” denoted the courage of the commanders and soldiers; “clubs” (_trèfle_--“trefoil”) the stores of forage; “spades” and “diamonds,” the magazines of arms. This was a view which, as we think, comes much closer to the real interpretation of the suits; and Bullet was still nearer the mark when he recognised _offensive_ arms in “clubs” and “spades,” and _defensive_ arms in “hearts” and “diamonds.” The first were the sword and the lance; the second, the target and the shield. But in order to do full honour to French cards, we must not exclude from our attention the _tarots_, which preceded our game of piquet, and continued to be simultaneously used even in France. The Spanish and Italian cardmakers, who had been nearly always established in France, made a large quantity of _tarots_ (Fig. 215); but they made a certain concession to French politeness by substituting “queens” for the “cavaliers” of their national game. We must remark here, that even at the epoch of the conquests of Charles VIII. and Louis XII., French cards with the four “queens” replacing the “cavaliers” never succeeded in nationalising themselves in Italy, and still less in Spain; on the contrary, the fact was that as regards this point of fashion, the vanquished people obtained the advantage over their conquerors, and the _tarots_ came into full favour among the victorious soldiery. [Illustration: Fig. 214.--Roxana, Queen of Hearts. (Specimen of the Cards of the time of Henry IV.)]