title: The A-Z of Card Games (Oxford Quick Reference)
author:  David Parlett 
description: <br><strong>David Parlett</strong> is an internationally renowned inventor, writer, and researcher in the field of games. Among his games is <em>Hare and Tortoise</em>, which has been published in ten languages and won three Game of the Year awards. His game books include <em>A History of Card Games</em> (OUP), <em>Card Games</em> and <em>Card Games</em> <em>for One</em> (both Teach Yourself books, 1994), <em>Know the Game</em> (Black, 1996), and <em>The Guinness Book of Word Games</em> (Guinness, 1995). He also advises on card-playing sequences in film and television and acts as a consultant to playing card and computer companies. He is a South Londoner by birth, domicile, and inclination.<br>
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  The Esmeralda Herders  
    
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  # The Esmeralda Herders
  
  
  ### Elia Wilkinson Peattie
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  LOUIS PAPIN laid his thumbed Shakespeare on the table, after many ineffectual
  attempts to read it, and said
  
  
  aloud in a speculative tone of voice, "Perhaps I'd better try a game of
  solitaire."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  He spread the cards out before him with much care; but the game proceeded
  slowly, for the reason that he
  
  
  seemed to have difficulty in recognizing the value of a card, staring at a
  three spot or a knave of clubs with
  
  
  uncomprehending eyes, as if he had never seen the like before. All of which
  meant, of course, that the enterprising
  
  
  impresario of the Esmeralda ranch had something on his mind.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Something was, indeed, so imperatively upon his mind that, after fifteen
  minutes of uncomprehending