Another Method of performing this trick is done by the performer standing in the middle of a room in which there is a mirror, and while holding the cards high above his head reading them off from the reflection in the mirror; this form of the trick, however, can only be expected to deceive very simple or young persons.
TO DISCOVER WHAT CARDS HAVE BEEN TURNED.
Place the court cards and a certain number of diamonds (but not the ace or seven) in a row on the table, and undertake to go out of the room, and name upon return which, if any, of the cards have been reversed in position by being turned during your absence. Except the court cards, the spades, clubs, and hearts are useless for this trick, inasmuch as the form of the designation printed on the card is irregular. A very careful examination of any pack of cards will show that they are not evenly printed—that is, that the pips of the common cards or the lines of the court cards are nearer to the outside edge of the card on the one side than on the other. The cards on which the difference is not distinguishable reject, placing the others with the broad margin to the right and the narrow margin to the left hand. Explain that the position of any one card or cards may be reversed by turning the top to the bottom, and vice versâ, and that upon your return to the room you will denote the card or cards. This, of course, with the above explanation as to how the cards are printed, will be an easy matter.
TO SEND A CARD THROUGH A SOLID TABLE.
Request some one of the company to draw a card, examine it, and return it to the pack. Make the pass, and bring the chosen card to the top of the pack; make a few false shuffles, always leaving the chosen card at the top of the pack. Place the whole of the pack, face downwards, on the table, and near to the edge at which the performer is sitting, the performer being careful to be alone on one side of the table, with the audience facing him. Slightly moisten the back of the right hand and sharply strike the cards therewith; the top card will then adhere to the hand. Bring both hands at once smartly under the table, in such a way as to prevent the card being seen. Take the chosen card with the left hand, and bring it up from underneath the table. Show the card, which will be recognised as the one chosen at the commencement of the trick.
TO TELL THE PAIRS.
Deal out twenty cards, and request ten persons each to take two cards during your absence, to return them to the table in pairs, and to remember their designation. Upon your return collect the pairs, and distribute the cards according to the numbers in the following table:—
| M | U | T | U | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| D | E | D | I | T |
| 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| N | O | M | E | N |
| 8 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| C | O | C | I | S |
| 10 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
Upon now being told in which row or rows the cards selected by any individual are placed, you will be able to point out the pair selected by that individual. The key to the trick is in the four following Latin words, "Mutus dedit nomen cocis." In these words it will be seen that there are ten different letters, each of which is repeated. The figures under the letters denote the pairs as they are placed. If it is stated that a pair selected is in the first and third rows, it will be evident that the cards are those placed under the letters "M" which appear in those lines. If both the cards are stated to be in the fourth row, it is evident that they must be the tenth pair, or those placed under the letter "C." The performer will, of course, understand that the key must be remembered, and the necessary arrangement of the pairs of cards be made from memory.
THE FOUR KINGS.