Let the person draw four cards from the pack at pleasure, and desire him
to think of one of them; then take these four cards back, and place two
of them at the top and two at the bottom of the pack, in a dextrous
manner, so as not to be perceived: under the two last, place any four
cards whatever; then display the lower part of the pack on the table,
showing only 8 or 10 cards, and ask the person whether the one he
thought of be among them. If he says No, you may be sure that it is one
of the two which you put at the top of the pack; in that case you must
transfer them to the bottom, and then, showing the bottom of the pack,
say, Is not this your card? If he replies No, turn aside that card with
your third finger, which you must have previously moistened, and desire
him to draw out his card himself from the bottom of the pack.
If the person should say, that the card he thought of is among the first
shown to him, dextrously remove the four cards put at the bottom of the
pack, in order that the two, one of which is the card he thought of, may
be the lowermost of the pack, and you may then either show him his card,
or make him draw it out himself, as above explained.
[Illustration]