Thirty-two cards are required, rejecting all under the Sevens. They
must be shuffled and cut as usual and divided into two packs of 16
each. The inquirer chooses one of the packs, and the first card is
laid aside for the “Surprise.” The remaining 15 cards are turned face
upward and laid on the table from left to right. A certain card must
be selected to represent the inquirer. And this must be in the pack he
selects. If not, the division must be gone over again until this card
is found in the selected pack.
_Method of Reading._
If there are any 2, 3 or 4 of a kind their explanation must first be
given. Next start from the card representing the inquirer and count in
groups of 7 from right to left. Next, pair the end cards together and
read their meaning. After this shuffle the 15 cards again and divide
them into three packs of 5 cards each. The top card of each is first
removed and placed with the other which has been set apart as the
“Surprise.” This will leave three packs of 4 cards each. Inquirer then
chooses one of the packs, and the 4 cards are laid out on the table
from left to right and their meaning is read. The left-hand pack is
“for the house,” the right-hand pack “for those who do not expect,” and
the remaining pack is “for the surprise.”
Let us suppose, for example, that the inquirer, being a woman, is
represented by the Queen of Clubs. She chooses the middle of the three
packs, which contains the Knave of Clubs, Eight of Diamonds (reversed),
Eight of Hearts, Queen of Clubs. These will be read as follows: “A
clever young man is ardent in his love and is flirting with the
inquirer. He has thoughts of marriage in which the inquirer plays a
very important part. And the prospects are favorable.”
The next pack, which is “for the house,” may have the following cards:
Knave of Spades, Ace of Spades, Knave of Hearts, King of Spades. They
are read as follows: There are 3 Spades, which indicate disappointment.
Two Knaves coming together indicate loss of goods and other trouble.
The Knave of Spades indicates a legal gentleman of not very refined
character who is employed by his master, an unscrupulous lawyer, as
shown by the King of Spades, and who is an enemy of the inquirer. A
young bachelor devoted to pleasure, however, will help the inquirer out
of difficulty. The next pack, which is for “those who do not expect,”
is, we will say, composed of the Queen of Hearts, Ten of Spades, Ace
of Clubs, Nine of Clubs. These indicate that a fair-haired lady, who
has had considerable grief, will bring letters relating to money to
the inquirer, possibly an unlooked-for inheritance which will change
the career of the inquirer. In the case of a merchant, it may mean new
customers.
Finally comes the pack “The Surprise,” in which we will find The Ace
of Hearts, Queen of Spades, Nine of Diamonds, Ten of Hearts. These are
read as follows: “A love letter with the best of news will be received.
A dark-haired lady will throw hindrances and trouble into the path of
the inquirer, in spite of which happiness and success will be the final
outcome.”