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 partner are successful; they wager on the odd trick, the best trump double, and treble the stakes, till, by sad reverse of fortune, the deluded country-man and his artful partner are stripped of the last farthing.

These are a set of cheats, who frequently trick simple people, both from the country and in London, out of their money; but most commonly exercise their villainous art upon young women. Their method of proceeding is thus: Privately to drop a ring, just before such persons come up, when they accost them as follows: Young woman, I have found a ring, and believe it is gold, for here is a stamp upon it. Immediately upon this an accomplice joins him, who, being asked the question, replies, It is gold. Well, says the former, as the young woman saw me pick it up, she has a right to half of it. As it often happens that the young person has but a few shillings on her, the Dropper says, If you incline for the ring, you shall have it for what you have in your pocket, and what else you can give me;—which sometimes proves to be a good hand-