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The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz, Volume II

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Professional Gamesters And Their Frauds

At Ecarte, the number of the signals is still less, as it is only
the figures that require indication: but to make these
indications it is necessary to execute a sort of pantomime,
according to certain authors, such as blowing the nose, coughing,
drumming on the table, sneezing, &c. Such evolutions, however,
are totally unworthy of your modern Greek, and would soon be
denounced as gross fraud. The signals which he employs are only
appreciable by his confederate,--as follows:--

If he looks

1. At his confederate, he designates A king.

2. At the play of his adversary . . . A queen.

3. At the stake . . . . . . . . . . . A knave.

4. At the opposite side . . . . . . . An ace.

And whilst he indicates the nature of the cards he at the same
time makes known the colour by the following signs:--

1. The mouth slightly open . . . . . Hearts.

2. The mouth shut . . . . . . . . . . Diamonds.

3. The upper-lip slightly pouting
over the lower . . . . . . . Clubs.

4. The lower-lip drawn over the
upper . . . . . . . . . . . Spades.

Thus, if the Greek wishes to announce, for instance, the knave
and ace of hearts, he successively directs his looks upon the
play of his adversary, upon the stake, and to the opposite side,
whilst keeping his mouth slightly open.

It is evident that this telegraphy may be employed at all games
where there is a gallery. In effect, nothing is easier at Piquet
than to indicate, by the aid of these signals, the colour in
which the player should discard and that in which he should keep
what cards he has.

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