“Very well, sir,” says the Professor. “There tell, if you please, what card this is?” (Very well = clubs, there tell = eleven, i.e. the knave.)
“You are holding the knave of clubs in your hand,” replies Mlle. C.
“Good. Look, if you please, and tell what this is?”
“The five of hearts.”
“Very good, Mademoiselle. Tell me, if you please, what this card is?”
“The king of diamonds.”
“Well, this?”
“The ace of spades.”
At this point it is not an uncommon thing for some skeptical person present to take a card and demand to know its value without having shown it to the Professor. The latter rises to the occasion immediately. He explains that Mademoiselle can only see what he actually sees himself, her sight being second to his own. Casually drawing a card, and not showing it to anybody, he remarks, “Very well, Mademoiselle, tell me, if you please, what this is?”
“The three of clubs,” she answers; and the Professor then shows the card to all, demonstrating the skill of the gifted lady.