The gentleman can now open the letter, when he may read as follows:—
“Sir—The four cards chosen by you are the king of spades, the eight of diamonds, the ace of hearts, and the knave of hearts.
The pile of seven dominoes contains the blank-two, three-two, double-four, four-five, deuce-ace, cinq-three, double-one, in all thirty-seven points.
“Signed Hanky Panky.”
On opening the lady’s letter, she may read:—
“Madam—You were destined to choose the lily.
“Signed H. Panky.”
And I shake the envelope out to produce a lovely lily, which was the flower the lady preferred.
Explanation.—The cards were eight sets of four, which were respectively the spade king, the eight of diamonds, ace of hearts, and knave of hearts. Consequently, wherever the choice fell it was sure to light on the cards which were named in the letter previously prepared.
The dominoes were placed in the box face up, as usual, but the bottom row was composed of the series which you wish to come out. On putting them on the table place the prepared lot on your left hand. If the right-hand lot should be chosen, quietly remove it, saying that you put it out of the way, and we will use the other (for it seems perfectly fair that the choice should as well exclude as include the lot). In the same way deal with the other rows so as to have the prepared set in any case.