_Preparation._ Card mat to be loaded with king of hearts and king of
diamonds, _not_ taken from the pack in use. Flower-pots on table.
Performer advances with ordinary pack, delivering patter to something
like the following effect. “It is not generally known, ladies and
gentlemen, what a lot of human nature there is about a pack of cards.
They have their likes and dislikes, and their little tempers, just as
we have. Some of them are bosom friends; others again hate each other
like rival suitors to the same best girl. The four kings are generally
pretty friendly, but there is a good deal of emulation between them,
particularly between the two red kings on the one hand, and the two black
ones on the other. Each pair claims to be the stronger, and they are
always pleased to have a chance of putting the matter to the test.
“I will give you an illustration of this, by allowing them to hold a
little tug of war. They have already had six trials, and each side has
won three of them. This evening we will let them play a final game,
which is to settle the matter. Will you, sir, kindly pick out the four
kings for me, and lay them on this little tray. Thank you!” (This done,
performer lays mat with cards on table.)
“I will drop the two red kings into this flower-pot.” He takes them from
the mat and after showing them drops them into the flower-pot (in reality
into the pocket), “and the black ones into this other.” (The black kings
are allowed to slide directly off the mat, into the flower-pot, the
concealed pair going with them.) “Are your Majesties ready? Silence gives
consent! Then Go!”
He waits a moment or two, and then looks over into the flower-pot with
the pocket. “Nothing has happened yet. Yes, there goes the king of
diamonds, pulled over to the other side. There’s not much chance now for
the poor king of hearts, left single-handed. He won’t hold out long. Yes!
Now he is gone too.”
Performer lifts flower-pot, with fingers inside pressing against pocket,
and shows it apparently empty. “And here, in the other flower-pot” (lifts
it and shows the four cards lying together on table) “are all four Kings.
One more score to black. You didn’t see the cards go? Of course you
didn’t; because they fly horizontally, like the aeroplanes, and they go
so fast that they get there almost before they have started.”