[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

had formed a small club, at the head of which was a young man named
Olivier de X, who was noted for his elegance and his eccentricities.
The family of this wild young fellow, was one of the oldest and most
respectable in the country, and much looked-up to.
Chauvignac fixed on this young heir, as a means of regaining his place
in the good opinion of his fellow-citizens.
He affected to be on terms of the greatest intimacy with him, when he
met him in public places, and addressed him in a loud tone of voice, in
the most familiar manner.
But, unfortunately, this apparent intimacy with Olivier, had just the
contrary result to what Chauvignac had anticipated: the one lost position,
but the other did not gain it.
Olivier began to be shunned, but Chauvignac fared no better. The latter,
however, as soon as he perceived this, and he was not long in so doing,
bethought himself of making Olivier's credit subservient to his views in
another way.
The parents of Olivier were not wealthy, and could do nothing for their
son, so his excessive extravagance had brough him into difficulties and
debt.
He regarded Chauvignac with envy and admiration; he saw him living
like a prince, without any creditors to annoy him.
"How is it," said he to Chauvignac one day, "that you, who have no
fortune, can gratify all your tastes and fancies, whilst I, who have some
small means, am obliged to be economical, besides which, I am in
debt?"
this query was precisely what Chauvignac had been waiting for. He
remained, for some moments, without answering his questioner,
intending to give more effect to his words; then, with a diabolical smile,
he thus addressed him:
http://www.thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/books/sharpers/016.html (3 of 19) [8/2/2003 4:34:48 PM]
Chapter XII-An Infamous Snare
"Would you like to be as happy as I am?"
"Can you ask me?"
"All depends on yourself, to be even better off than I am."
"What must I do?" eagerly demanded Olivier.
Chauvignac thought his young neophyte sufficiently prepared, to receive
what he had to impart.
"Listen to me," whispered he, in a mysterious voice. "You have
doubtless heard the following prober, old as the world itself: Men are
divided into two classes, Dupers and Dupes. Come, speak frankly, to
which of these categories would you like to belong?"
"Why you see, you are so abrupt in your question. You come on one so
suddenly; it requires reflection."
"Agreed," observed his second Mephistophiles, "we will make the
reflections together, and will study the subject, in some individuals of
that great and motley crowd, which is termed "society.'"
The two friends were, at that moment, standing at the door of one of the
largest and best cafés in the town.
It was Sunday; the weather was fine, and crowds of pedestrians were
lounging up and down before them.
"Look," said Chauvignac, "do you see that thin miserable man, with his
head bowed down, and his clothes hanging in rags? He is an unfortunate
fellow, who has worked all his life to pay off the debts left by his father.
He is old; he has hardly bread to put in his mouth. You will observe no
one takes any notice of him. Now, look at that stout man, so puffed up
with pride and insolence; how please he seems with himself, as they say,
like a peacock spreading his tail. He has been a merchant, and has made
his money by fraud and cheating. He afterwards set up as a banker, and
lent money at an usurious interest. He is now a millionnaire. See he
bows with a patronising air to all whom he meets. The first is a dupe, the
second a duper."
"Or to speak more plainly," added Olivier, "the first is an honest man,
http://www.thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/books/sharpers/016.html (4 of 19) [8/2/2003 4:34:48 PM]
Chapter XII-An Infamous Snare
the second a rogue."
"Be it so--I grant you that," continued the tempter, "but now I will give
you another example, of which you will not be able to make the same
observation.
"You, better than any one else, ought to know an intelligent, generous-
hearted, and ambitious young man, who, for want of sufficient means,
leads a life of privation and troubles, is overwhelmed with debt, and, if
he thinks of playing to retrieve his fortunes, he is sure to lose. Near to
him, at this moment, is one of his friends, who, without fixed income or
expectations, possesses, nevertheless, a never ending fortune. This man
always wins at play, and has not a caprice ungratified.
"The former of these is the dupe, the latter, is--"
Here Chauvignac paused, to allow Olivier to finish the phrase.
"What is it you mean?" asked he, beginning to comprehend the purport
of the conversation.
"What I mean, is this," replied Chauvignac with a sneer-- "To prove to
you, that the lucky gamester, whose good fortune you envy, belongs to a
society of philosophers, and that these philosophers have certain and
easy methods, of turning luck in their own favour."
"But," observed Olivier, his sense of right struggling for mastery in his
mind. "To cheat at play is an act of dishonesty."
"On this point, my dear sir, we do not agree; you are in error, and I will
prove it to you. First of all, tell me what you call cheating at play?"
"I call winning by underhand tricks, cheating." "Very well; if that be the
case, I will soon show you that the most honest man will not scruple to
cheat.
"For instance, do we not daily see men of the strictest probity, seek to
turn luck in their favour by various means. One, in placing himself at the
table, will sit opposite the hinges, because he believes it to be a lucky
spot. Again, if he wins, he will not count his money, fearing to turn his
luck. Another believes in the influence of a certain coin, which he mixes
with the rest of his money--but which he will never part with. Others,
http://www.thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/books/sharpers/016.html (5 of 19) [8/2/2003 4:34:48 PM]
Chapter XII-An Infamous Snare
again, wear amulets, made of the dried heart of a black hen, the head of
a beetle, or a bit of the cord with which a malefactor has been hung.* (*
See the interesting work of Edouard Gourdon, "Les faucheurs de Nuit"--
the chapter on fetishes.)
"Just tell me what is the object of these mysterious influences, if it be
not, as they say in the criminal courts, "gagner subrepticement le bien
d'autrui en faisant tourner à son profit les bénéfices d'une partie.
"In such eases, if the act is not committed, the intention is the same, and
ought to be considered as if accomplished.
"Between the above-mentioned actions and ours, the only difference is,
that one depends on the mind, the other on the fingers. The moral result
is the same.
"Of this you may be sure, that if these honest folks do not go further, it is
because they dare not. I will even say more," continued Chauvignac,
carried away by his own sophistry. "Take, for instance, one of these
heroes of probity, and show him a method of always winning, with a
certainty of never being detected, and see if he will not follow it. Believe
me, I know a great deal more than I care to tell."
"All that," said Olivier, "proves, at most, that all honest men may not be
able to resist temptation; but it does not go to prove, that cheating is not
a crime. Besides, it is punishable by law."
"That's true," replied the cunning Chauvignac; "but again, we have no
proof that the law is right. I maintain, that, far from being reprehensible,
the art of turning aside ill-luck and bettering one's fortune, is a thing
which ought to be encouraged." Olivier could not help smiling.
"I am serious," added Chauvignac. "Yes! The art of winning at play is
meritorious. And why? Because it is useful. If the Government had any
sense, they would not only encourage cheating, but give a premium for
it."
"Then I don't know what morality means."
"Only, because you have not studied pure philosophy, as I have. Hold--
to make you understand it better, I will just give you an example. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • moje-waterloo.xlx.pl

    •