The Double-Cross
Many incidents that took place aboard his ship are re-told by Twain.
one has to do with a wealthy cattle man who was approached by
three gamblers. The cattle farmer had let it be known that he
had a great deal of money, and the gamblers were trying to wheedle
him into a card game. He protested that he knew nothing about cards. His rustic appearance confirmed that fact. On the last night before landing the
three gamblers got him drunk. When the first hand was dealt, a jubilant
expression came over his face. The betting  became furious. All of the proper 
decorum was put aside, and ten thousand dollars soon lay on the table.
With the last wager one of the gamblers showed a hand of four kings. His
partner was to have dealt the sucker a hand of four queens. At this point 
the victim, the charlatan, removed the veneer of respectability, and showed a hand
of four aces! One of the three professional gamblers was a clandestine confederate
of the "rich cattle farmer." They had been planning this duplicity for
many weeks.

Achilles heel-- he wanted to lead an ascetic life, but his obsession with
liquor was his Achilles heel.
(weak pot.)