My confidant replied, “that he always approved of whatever I thought proper to do; but that since I condescended to consult him, he would recommend me not to trust too much to chance, but to take measures to ensure good fortune.” “What measures?” said I, pretending to be quite a novice in the business. “Are you ignorant then,” said he, “that when people play for the sake of whining, it is common to make use of every means without ceremony to strip our neighbour’s pockets? Honest folks now-a-days do this without the slightest scruple of conscience. Be assured, that what I tell you is true, and be not a greater fool than others; I will assist you as far as the little knowledge I have in these matters will avail.” I was overjoyed at this proposal of Sayavedra’s; and more particularly as he volunteered his services on this occasion; for up to this moment I had kept up at least the _appearance_ of honesty with him, which is absolutely necessary if one expects to be faithfully served. I now, however, told him that, as he well knew, I could have no other object than that of gain, and that if he was acquainted with an infallible mode of always playing with success, I should be glad to learn it of him; and that if even there were a little spice of knavery in it, it were surely pardonable in the present deplorable condition of my finances. He was charmed in his turn at my apparent readiness to submit to his instructions. “I need only give you one lesson,” said he, “to enable you to get all the money at the table. I shall watch my opportunities to take a turn round the room, either to snuff the candles, or to bring you a glass of wine; meantime I shall see what cards your adversaries hold, which I can easily communicate to you by signs agreed upon between us.” Sayavedra having thus instructed me, I agreed with him that I should be a fool indeed were I lose with such an assistant. We agreed then upon our signs, and my preceptor did not fail to perceive that he had a very apt scholar in me.