Diddling - Considered as One of the Exact Sciences

In this humorous essay, Poe satirically presents "diddling" — petty swindling and clever trickery — as if it were a formal science with its own principles and rules. Through exaggerated examples and mock-serious analysis, he portrays the "diddler" as an ingenious manipulator who thrives on gullibility, turning everyday situations into opportunities for small but artful deception.