“Observe, I just draw the magnet slowly across from the one flower-pot to the other, when the single card, being naturally the weaker, will be drawn out of its own flower-pot, and join the other two.” (Looks into flower-pot holding the pair.)
“Yes, it has found its way, as you see.” (Lifts the pot, and shows that the third card is on the table with the other two.) “And as it’s a well-known fact that nobody but a bird can be in two places at the same time, it naturally follows that it is no longer in this other pot, which is once more empty.” (Lifts it up and shows that it is so.)
Variation. If the flower-pots are not available, the single card may be placed in a card box, or other suitable appliance adapted for causing its disappearance, the other two, with the concealed card, being dropped from the mat into a borrowed hat.
THE TELEPATHIC TAPE
Requirements. Two or three yards of half-inch tape or ribbon, wound on a reel, to which its inner end is secured, and having a loop on its outer end. Coin mat made adhesive, and two packs of cards, which we will call A and B respectively. From pack A take a court card (say the queen of diamonds), and press it face down against the waxed side of the mat: then turn this over, and place the rest of the pack upon its unprepared side. On the top of pack B lay the corresponding card, in readiness for forcing. This pack also to be placed on table.
Presentation. Advance with pack A on the mat. Invite a gentleman to take it in his own hands and after shuffling, to pick out a card, and without looking at it, lay it face down on the mat. Remark: “I have asked you not to look at the card, because I find people fancy I find out by what is called thought-reading, and if you don’t know the card yourself, I can’t find it out that way, can I? You are sure you don’t know what card you have taken? I can honestly say that I don’t. Now please notice that I don’t look at it, or even touch it—I will place it here, where you can all keep an eye on it. You had better keep the other eye on me.”
You accordingly place the mat on the table, in transit keeping the card just laid upon it in place by the pressure of the thumb, and just as you reach the table, under cover of your own body, turn over the mat, so as to bring the adhering card uppermost.
You then say, picking up the reel, “I must now introduce to your notice my telepathic tape. Like myself, it isn’t anything particular to look at, but it has an extraordinary talent for finding out things; even secrets that people don’t know themselves. Now you will admit that the name of that card on the table is at present an A1, copperbottomed secret. Even the gentleman who chose the card doesn’t know what it is; you don’t know; in fact nobody knows. Nothing could well be more secret than that. But this tape will find it out. Will you, Sir,”—(addressing the gentleman who chose the card) “be kind enough to pass this loop over your left little finger. Thank you, and now I want some lady to assist me. Perhaps you will oblige, Madam?” A sufficient length of the tape is unrolled, and the reel placed in the lady’s hands. “And now I will ask you to do me the further favor of taking a card from this other pack.” (The second queen is forced on the lady.)
“Now, Madam, what was the card the gentleman chose? You don’t know? Oh, yes, you do. The tape has told you. Unless it has betrayed me for the first time in my experience, it will have compelled you by an effect of sympathy to draw the very same kind of card as the one freely chosen, as you will remember from the other pack. What card did you draw? The queen of diamonds?” (Goes to table, and turns up card on tray.) “The tape was right, you see. The card the gentleman drew is also a queen of diamonds.”
In default of the card mat, the trick can be equally well performed by the aid of the card-box, or any other appliance for “changing” a card.