A pack of fifty-two cards is taken, shuffled and cut, and divided
thus:--Every seven, nine and five are to be removed and put on one
side. The six of clubs, the eight and ten of diamonds are to be
withdrawn and put in a place by themselves. Then the rest are shuffled
and five cards laid out face upwards till the pack is exhausted. It
will now be found there are seven rows of five cards each, and two
remaining; these two are placed with the nines, sevens and fives, to
be used later. These cards are read, counting seven every way from the
significator, then gathered together, shuffled and cut, the first
group (seven in number) being first of all withdrawn, which must be
added to the nines, sevens and fives already withdrawn. There will now
be four groups of seven cards each. The first must be read, the second
put aside, the third explained, and the fourth laid by. The second and
fourth are left out entirely and not used. The nines, sevens and fives
and the first group you have withdrawn are shuffled, cut in two
packets, and laid out on the table before the dealer. If two red nines
appear close together, it is taken to show honor, dignity and joy; if
two red sevens and two red fives side by side, great and unexpected
good luck, a legacy or money that you don't anticipate; if two red
fives and the nine of hearts are near each other, a marriage of
affection; if with the seven of diamonds, a moneyed marriage, but of
love; if two red fives and two black sevens, a marriage for money
which will turn out unhappily; if two red sevens and two red fives,
and the nine of hearts appear, it is supposed to be the greatest and
happiest prognostic you can have, whether married or single--luck,
pleasure, money; if two black sevens and two black fives appear, it is
considered very evil, and if accompanied by the nine of spades,
unhappiness in marriage, divorce, scandal and sometimes violence
caused through drink; if the eight of spades should be amongst those
withdrawn and turn up with the aforesaid cards, violent death by
murder or accident. It is taken to be the worst combination in the
pack. These cards (viz: the nines, sevens and fives, and those which
have been withdrawn from the group of fives) are laid in rows of
sevens, counting seven every way from the significator; then the
extreme ends are taken and paired, being read as they turn up. Next
the whole is shuffled, including the six of clubs and the eight and
ten of diamonds. These three cards are the index. Wherever they appear
they are supposed to show good luck, happiness and prosperity; if
they should happen between exceptionally bad cards, the luck is over,
or marred through malignity; but as a rule they are taken to import
great joy. The evil combination is thus: If the six of clubs is
surrounded with spades, or the eight or ten of diamonds are _between_
two black fives and the two black sevens are near, then the best laid
scheme will come to nought; but if they are surrounded by the nine of
hearts and nine of diamonds, then it is a very good omen. The eight
and ten of diamonds are supposed to be extremely good if there are
three or four nines to follow them, for then the nine of spades loses
its evil significance, and should the seven of diamonds and seven of
hearts follow, a good marriage and happiness; or, if the person is
married, new prosperity or riches for the husband or sometimes the
birth of an heir.