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The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz, Volume II

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Chevaliers D'industrie, Or Polite Sharpers

The party reached Boulogne and put up at the Hotel de l'Univers.
On their arrival they were informed that no time was to be lost,
as the count talked of leaving next day. The two travellers took
a hasty dinner, and at once proceeded to the apartment of the
Belgian millionnaire. Chaffard, who had preceded them,
introduced them as two of his friends, whose property was
situated in the vicinity of Boulogne.

M. le Comte de Vandermool was a man about fifty years of age,
with an open, candid countenance. He wore several foreign
decorations. He received the two gentlemen with charming
affability; he did more; he invited them to spend the evening
with him. Of course the invitation was accepted. When the
conversation began to flag, the count proposed a game--which was
also, of course, very readily agreed to by the three comperes.

While the table was prepared, Chauvignac gave his young friend
two packs of cards, to be substituted for those which should be
furnished by the count. Ecarte was to be the game, and Olivier
was to play, the two other associates having pretended to know
nothing about the game, and saying that they would content
themselves by betting with each other. Of course Olivier was
rather surprised at this declaration, but he soon understood by
certain signs from Chauvignac that this reservation was intended
to do away with the count's suspicions, in case of their success.

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