A pack of cards are caused to be drawn by some person. A person arriving
in the room names all the cards just drawn, without making the least
mistake with regard to their colour, number, &c.
_Explanation._—The cards are disposed as we observed before. The
conjurer having, unnoticed, observed the card drawn, he informs his
agent, even at the very instant he promises he will take particular care
he or his agent shall know nothing about it: he says he will not speak a
word while his agent names the cards, and that the person who holds them
shall be confined to show them to the company, by saying this is such
and such a card, &c. It is in this last phrase he names the card, which
is underneath; his accomplice, who hears him, and who knows by heart the
disposition of the pack, names the cards which follow it; that is to
say, for instance, if he is given to understand that the 19th is
underneath, he names the 10th, the 17th, &c. Having mentioned the whole
pack, his friend, who, during this time, never speaks a word, resumes
the use of his speech, and begs of the person who had chosen them, to
ask what are the others that remain unnamed; the confederate is informed
by this question that there is not one remaining, and answers
accordingly.
THE CARD SPRINGING UP INTO THE AIR, FROM THE PACK, WITHOUT BEING
TOUCHED.
One of the cards is drawn, which is afterwards put in, and shuffled with
the rest of the pack; then the pack is put into a kind of a square
spoon, placed upright upon a bottle, which serves it as a pedestal, and
at the company’s pleasure the card instantly flies up into the air.
_Explanation._—In the first place, a forced card must be chosen, in the
manner described; then the pack must be placed in the spoon so that the
chosen card may lean on a pin, bent in the form of a hook; this pin is
fastened to a thread, and ascending through a pack, leans upon the upper
end of the spoon; then it descends under the room, through the table.
Thus arranged, the confederate cannot pull the thread without dragging
along with it the hook and card, which causes it to be perceived as
flying in the air. The thread slides upon the blunt edge of the spoon as
easily as if it run in a pulley.
In order to place the cards in the spoon quick enough, that the
spectators may perceive no preparation, care must be taken that another
pack is presented dextrously on the table. The chosen card in the other,
with the hook and thread, must be previously prepared as above
described.