Note 206 — Chapter III · THE PROGRESS OF CARD-PLAYING. (continued 2)

An analogous case, at cards, of begging for a point in order to inspire the adversary with an erroneous opinion of the beggar being weak, is thus related by Paschasius Justus of Pope Leo X. His holiness once, when playing at a game similar to Primero, held such cards as made it impossible for him to lose, except from the circumstance of his being the last player; but as his adversary, whose turn it was to declare first, proposed a heavy stake, he concluded that he held as good cards as himself. Being reluctant to yield the game, "give me a point," he cried, "and I will see you." The other, not suspecting that the Pope held such capital cards, readily assented, and consequently lost.—The narrator says that he could applaud the trick, if his holiness had returned the loser his stake.—Pasc. Justi Aleæ, lib. i, p. 50. Edit. Neapoli Nemetum [Neustadt, in the diocese of Spires], 1617.