_Ace_ of _Diamonds_. A year older.
” _Hearts_. A trifle stouter.
” _Spades_. A year wiser.
” _Clubs_. Bald as a baby.
It will be found on comparing them that the answers are arranged on
a regular system, those on the red cards being of a more or less
complimentary nature, or otherwise favourable; the black suits less so,
particularly the clubs, which are rather the reverse, and are intended
to be used as replies to gentlemen only. Bearing this arrangement in
mind, it is a comparatively easy matter to suit the answer to the querist.
The questions must be memorised in proper order, and it is desirable to
do the same with the answers also, though there should be no difficulty,
remembering the principle of arrangement, in giving a fairly appropriate
answer, even though the memory be for the moment at fault as to its exact
terms. To avoid the necessity of giving the same answer more than once,
it is well to make a rule that the same question shall not be asked more
than three times.
The Oracle may be introduced as follows:
“Allow me to introduce to your notice a curio of an exceptionally
interesting kind. This elegant little affair is said to have been the
private Oracle of Rameses the Second, a gentleman who flourished in
Egypt about four thousand years ago. I can’t be sure to a year or two,
because it was before my time, but I believe that is about right. People
sometimes express surprise that, being so ancient, the Oracle should be
in such good condition, but that is accounted for by its having been
preserved in the same case as Rammy’s mummy. I don’t mean his mamma,
but the gentleman himself, in the cold storage of the period. The story
may or may not be true. I can’t take any responsibility for it. Others
declare that the Oracle was the favourite plaything of Helen of Troy.
Historians do tell such tarradiddles that one doesn’t know what to
believe.
“The powers of the Oracle are limited, for it will only answer
eight questions, and in its own way, but its answers are quite
trustworthy--well, perhaps not _quite_. Let us say as trustworthy as
those of Bond Street fortune-tellers at a guinea a guess. Who will be the
first to test its veracity?
“I should mention, by the way, that, as each answer exhausts a certain
amount of power, the same question must not be asked more than three
times. You would like to consult the Oracle, Madam? Then please select
one of the questions on this card, and read it out for the information of
the Company.
“You wish to know” (repeating question). “Good. The answer to your
question will be found on one or other of the cards in this pack, and the
Oracle will tell us which one to look for. First, however, I must ask you
to breathe into this glass. That supplies the missing link, so to speak,
and makes it a sort of personal affair between you and the Oracle.” (This
is done.)
“Thank you. Now I shall place the glass on its stand, and this little
pointer” (holding it up and placing it on its pivot) “will reveal the
correct answer, first indicating the suit among which the answer is to be
found. You may notice that it wobbles a bit at first. That is because it
is thinking over the question. Now it has come to rest, and it says the
answer will be found in the”--(name suit.) “And now to find out which is
the right card of that suit. I take off the glass and turn the dial over.
Please concentrate your mind on your question. I put the glass and the
pointer on again. Again the pointer thinks it over, and finally decides
as you see, for the--” (naming number of card.) “Now all we have to do
is to look out that card” (does so) “and here we have the answer to your
question.”
Before inviting a fresh querist to breathe into the glass, it is well to
wipe it out carefully with a silk pocket handkerchief, professedly to
dispel the personal magnetism of the last enquirer, any remains of which,
left within the glass, might imperil the correctness of the anticipated
answer.