After the cards have been well shuffled and cut, they are dealt out in
two packs containing sixteen cards in each. The person consulting is
desired to choose one of them; the first card is laid aside to form
"the surprise," the other fifteen are turned up and ranged in a half
circle before the dealer, going from left to right, being placed in
the order in which they come to hand. If the card representing the
person consulting be not among them the cards must be all gathered up,
shuffled, cut, and dealt as before, and this must be repeated till the
missing card makes its appearance in the pack chosen by the person it
represents. They are explained, first, by interpreting the meaning of
any pairs, triplets, or quartettes among them; then by counting them
in sevens, going from right to left, and beginning with the card
representing the person consulting, and lastly, by taking the cards at
either extremity of the line, and pairing them. This being done, the
fifteen cards are gathered up, shuffled, cut, and dealt so as to form
three packs of five cards each. From each of these the topmost card is
withdrawn and placed on the one laid aside for "the surprise," thus
forming four packs of four cards each.
The person consulting is desired to choose one of these packs for
herself or for himself as the case may be. This is turned up, and the
four cards it contains are spread out from left to right, the
individual and relative signification ascribed to them being duly
explained. In like manner the pack on the left, which will be "for the
house," is used; then the third one, "for those who do not expect it;"
and lastly, "the surprise."
In order to make the meaning perfectly clear another example is given.
It is supposed that the pack for the person consulting consists of the
jack of hearts, the ace of diamonds, the queen of clubs and the eight
of spades reversed.
It will be easy to interpret them as follows: "The jack of hearts--a
gay young bachelor--the ace of diamonds--who has written, or who will
very soon write a letter--the queen of clubs--to a dark woman--eight
of spades reversed--to make proposals to her, which will not be
accepted." On looking back to the list of significations, it will be
found to run thus:
Jack of Hearts--A gay young bachelor who thinks only of pleasure.
Ace of Diamonds--A letter, soon to be received.
Queen of Clubs--An affectionate woman, but quick tempered and
touchy.
Eight of Spades--If reversed, a marriage broken off, or offer
refused.
It will thus be seen that each card forms, as it were, a phrase, from
an assemblage of which nothing but a little practice is required to
form complete sentences. Of this a further example will be given by
interpreting the signification of the three other packs.
"For the house" is supposed to consist of the queen of hearts, the
jack of spades reversed, the ace of clubs and the nine of diamonds,
which are supposed to read thus: "The queen of hearts--a fair woman,
mild and amiable in disposition--jack of spades reversed--will be
deceived by a dark, ill bred young man--the ace of clubs--but she will
receive some good news, which will console her--nine of
diamonds--although it is probable that this news may be delayed."
The pack "for those who do not expect it," consists of the queen of
diamonds, the king of spades, the ace of hearts reversed, and the
seven of spades: "The queen of diamonds--a mischief-making woman--the
king of spades--in league with a dishonest lawyer---ace of hearts
reversed--they will hold a consultation--seven of spades--but the harm
they will do will soon be repaired."
Last comes "the surprise," formed by, it is supposed, the jack of
clubs, the ten of diamonds, the queen of spades and the nine of
spades, of which the supposed interpretation is: "The jack of clubs--a
clever, enterprising young man--ten of diamonds--about to undertake a
journey--queen of spades--for the purpose of visiting a widow--nine
of spades--but one or both their lives will be endangered."