The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)

"The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims, Volume 2" by Andrew Steinmetz is a 19th-century account examining the world of gambling, with emphasis on its irresistible appeal and destructive outcomes. The story shows the seedy side of gambling life, complete with cunning con artists, their unsuspecting targets, and the problems society experiences as a result of such destructive behavior. Steinmetz starts off the story by talking about "chevaliers d'industrie," or polished con men, explaining how they use tricks and lies to achieve their goals. The start of the book tells the story of how these skilled swindlers got their start, showing how they slowly started tricking innocent people, often getting them involved in dishonest gambling schemes. One important character, a young man from a good family named Olivier, is tricked by Chauvignac, a talented card cheat, which causes him to participate in a string of gambling activities that lead to his downfall. The start of the volume lays the foundation for an analysis of how gambling not only ensnares people but also starts a pattern of sadness, conflict, and the breakdown of society.