No Comebacks

'In two manners, my lord,' the detective told the judge. 'By what is called "shading" and "trimming". Each of the four suits is indicated on the back of the cards by trimming the edges at different places, on each end of the card so that it does not matter which way up the card is held. In the trimming, the white border between the edge of the pattern and the edge of the card is caused to vary in width. This variation, though very slight, can be observed from across the table, thus indicating to the cheat what suits his opponent is holding. If that is clear?'

'A model of lucidity,' said Judge Comyn, staring at O'Connor.

'The high cards, from ace down to ten, were distinguished from each other by shading, that is, using a chemical preparation to cause slight darkening or lightening of tiny areas of the pattern on the backs of the cards. The areas so affected are extremely small, sometimes no larger than the tip of one whorl in the complex pattern. But enough to be spotted by the card-sharp from across the table, because he knows exactly what he is looking for.'

'Would it be necessary for the cardsharp to deal dishonestly as well?' asked counsel. He was aware the jury was riveted. It made such a change from stealing horses.

'A crooked deal might be included,' conceded the detective from the Fraud Squad, 'but it would not be necessary.'

'Would it be possible to win against such a player?' asked counsel.

'Quite impossible, sir,' the witness told the bench. 'The cardsharp would simply decline to wager when he knew his opponent had a better hand, and place high bets when he knew his own was better.'

'No further questions,' said counsel. For the second time O'Connor declined to cross-examine.

'You have the right to ask the witness any question you may wish, concerning his evidence,' Judge Comyn told the accused.

'Thank you, my lord,' said O'Connor, but kept his peace.

Counsel's third, last and star witness was the Tralee grocer, Lurgan Keane, who entered the witness box as a bull to the arena and glared at O'Connor.

Prompted by the prosecuting counsel, he told his story. He had concluded a business deal in Dublin that day, which accounted for the large amount of cash he had been carrying. In the train, he had been inveigled into a game of poker, at which he thought he was a skilled player, and before Farranfore had been relieved of £62. He had become suspicious because, however promising the hand he held, he had always been bettered by another and had lost money.

At Farranfore he had descended from the train, convinced he had been cheated, and had asked for the police to be present at Tralee.

'And I was right,' he roared to the jury, 'your man was playing with marked cards.'

The twelve good men and true nodded solemnly.

This time O'Connor rose, looking sadder than ever and as harmless as a calf in the byre, to cross-examine. Mr Keane glowered at him.

'You say that I produced the pack of cards?' he asked sorrowfully.

'You did,' said Keane.

'In what manner?' asked O'Connor.

Keane looked puzzled. 'From your pocket,' he said.

'Yes,' agreed O'Connor, 'from my pocket. But what did I do with the cards?'

Keane thought for a moment. 'You began to play patience,' he said.

Judge Comyn, who had almost begun to believe in the possibility of the law of remarkable coincidence, got that sinking feeling again.

'And did I speak first to you,' asked the accused, 'or did you speak first to me?'

The burly grocer looked crestfallen. 'I spoke to you,' he said, then turning to the jury he added, 'but your man was playing so badly I could not help it. There were blacks on reds and reds on blacks that he couldn't see, so I pointed a couple out to him.'

'But when it came to the poker,' persisted O'Connor, 'did I suggest a friendly game of poker or did you?'

'You did,' said Keane heatedly, 'and you suggested we make it interesting with a little wagering. Wagering indeed. Sixty-two pounds is a lot of money,'

The jury nodded again. It was indeed. Enough to keep a working man for almost a year.

'I put it to you,' said O'Connor to Keane, 'that it was you who suggested the poker, and you who proposed the wager. Before that we were playing with matchsticks?'

The grocer thought hard. The honesty shone from his face. Something stirred in his memory. He would not lie.