CHAPTER IX--HEARTS AND DIAMONDS. SPADES AND CLUBS 208-221

Oldest French pack--The costumes--Charles VI--The marriage fête--The fire--Original French Piquet pack-- Invention of French pips--Vignoles and Chevalier--Jacques Coeur--The Palace at Bourges--Money or Carreaux--Swords or piques--Sticks or Tréfles--The pun--Red and black--The startling inquiry--Tarots, Playing Cards or the Book of Thoth--Ignorance of writers--French cards born three hundred years ago--Vignolles--Chevalier and Jacques Coeur--Piquet--Agnes Sorel--Black and red--de Gebelin's history--Confusion--Discussion--Prejudice.