Note 138 — Chapter IX · GAMBLING AND SPECULATION.

But primest and chief delight of men and women in this age was CARDS. Never, perhaps, was such a card-playing time—certainly not in England. Ombre, which is so vividly described in the third canto of the 'Rape of the Lock' was a game which could be played by two, three, or five persons—generally by three; to each of whom nine cards were dealt. It takes its name from the Spanish, the person who undertook to stand the game making use of the words 'Yo soy l'hombre,' 'I am the man.' It was an improvement on Primero, which disappeared after its introduction. L'hombre is still played in Spain under the name of Tresillo, and in Spanish America it is called Rocambor. Piquet is now played. Basset was a very gambling game, closely resembling the modern Faro; Whisk or Whist, Brag, Lanterloo, or Lanctre loo, in which pam, or the knave of clubs, is the highest card:[138] 'Were she at her Parish Church, in the Height of her Devotion, should any Body in the Interim but stand at the Church Door and hold up the Knave of Clubs, she would take it to be a Challenge at Lanctre Loo; and starting from her prayers, would follow her beloved Pam, as a deluded Traveller does an Ignis Fatuus'; and One and Thirty, which does not seem a very extravagant game, judging by Swift's account of it.[139] 'Lord Treasurer has had an ugly fit of the rheumatism, but is now near quite well. I was playing at one and thirty with him and his family the other night. He gave us all twelvepence apiece to begin with.' These were some of the games[140] they delighted in; and the accompanying illustration very vividly brings before us a quiet and pleasant game at cards.