The Metamorphosed Cards

In the middle of a pack place a card that is something wider than the

rest, which we will suppose to be the knave of spades, under which

place the seven of diamonds, and under that the ten of clubs. On the

top of the pack put cards similar to these, and others on which are

painted different objects, viz.:



First card A bird

Second A seven of diamonds

Third A flowe

Fourth Another seven of diamonds

Fifth A bird

Sixth A ten of clubs

Seventh A flower

Eighth Another ten of clubs;



then seven or eight indifferent cards, the knave of spades, which is

the wide card, the seven of diamonds, the ten of clubs, and the rest

any indifferent cards.



Two persons are to draw the two cards that are under the wide card,

which are the seven of diamonds and the ten of clubs. You take the

pack in your left hand, and open it at the wide end, as you open a

book, and tell the person who drew the seven of diamonds to place it

in that opening. You then blow on the cards, and, without closing

them, instantly bring the card which is at top, and on which a bird is

painted, over that seven of diamonds. To do this dexterously, you must

wet the middle finger of your left hand, with which you are to bring

the card to the middle of the pack. You then bid the person look at

his card, and when he has remarked the change, to place it where it

was before. Then blow on the cards a second time, and, bringing the

seven of diamonds, which is at the top of the pack, to the opening,

you bid him look at his card again, when he will see it is that which

he drew. You may do the same with all the other painted cards, either

with the same person, or with him who drew the ten of clubs.



The whole artifice consists in bringing the card at the top of the

pack to the opening in the middle, by the wet finger, which requires

no great practice. Observe, not to let the pack go out of your hands.