[Illustration]
This is, perhaps, the most curious and interesting of all the games of
Solitaire, and, if successful, it forms a pretty picture of the sultan
or king of hearts, surrounded by his eight queens. As it is rather
difficult to understand the arrangement, we have prepared a little
diagram to illustrate it.
Take out the ace of hearts and all the kings. Place one king of hearts
in the centre. Just above him place the ace of hearts, and below him
the other king of hearts. On each side of the ace place the kings of
clubs, who represent war. On each side of the first king of hearts are
the kings of diamonds, representing the treasury; and on the lower
line, each side of the second king of hearts, are the kings of spades,
representing the industrial forces.
Then shuffle the remaining cards, and lay off from the pack. Put the
first four cards on one side off the square formed by the kings,
placing the ends of the cards towards the square. Put the next four
cards on the other side in a similar manner; these eight cards form the
divan.
Leaving the sultan untouched, form the other families by placing the
aces on the kings, and so piling in regular succession, according
to suits, ending with the queens. Place all cards which you cannot
immediately use, in a pile on the table, which is called the stock. You
can use the cards you are laying off from the packs, or the top card of
the stock, or any card in the divan, in forming your families. When a
card is taken from the divan, you may fill its place, either by the top
card from the stock, or by the next card from the pack, as you think
most likely to be favorable to your purpose.
When you have exhausted the pack, you can take up the stock and use
it as a pack, always keeping your divan full. This you can do twice.
Some skill is required in placing the cards in the divan, and in
selecting them for use, and constant care is needed that no opportunity
in placing a card in the families escape you. You will, after a little
experience, generally be rewarded with success.