The pack of thirty-two selected cards having been well shuffled and
cut, proceed by turning them up by threes; if an ace appears amongst
the three, those three cards must be taken out; and if the nine of
hearts and the significator appear, they must also be taken out with
the cards that accompany them. This operation has to be repeated three
times, and if in the three times the four aces, the significator and
the nine of hearts come out in eleven or nine cards, then the wish is
taken to be certain; if they do not appear under twelve or fifteen, it
is said the wish will not come to pass. To make the meaning perfectly
clear, we will suppose that a dark man, represented by the king of
clubs, is making the essay. Having well shuffled and cut the cards,
they must be turned up in threes.
In the first come the king of diamonds, ace of spades, and king of
clubs--the person who is making the essay; the next three are king and
queen of spades and ten of diamonds--these are useless; the next
three, the ten of hearts, six of diamonds and king of hearts--these
are laid on one side; then the seven and eight of spades and ace of
diamonds--these are withdrawn and are put over the other three, with
the ace and significator; the next three--nine of diamonds, eight of
clubs and ace of clubs, these come out; likewise the jack of clubs,
ten of spades, and ace of hearts, and the two left are the jack of
spades and nine of hearts--the other cards are useless. Fourteen cards
are now left, they are shuffled and cut, and again dealt in threes.
The ace of spades, nine of hearts, king of spades remain; the next
three, ten of spades, ace of hearts and nine of diamonds also remain.
The following triplet: king of diamonds, king of clubs and jack of
clubs all come out. The seven of spades, ace of diamonds and eight of
clubs remain, as also the two last--eight of spades and ace of clubs.
This makes eleven cards, so that the wish is considered to be gained;
but if it is tried the third time, and more cards come out, then it is
supposed that it will be very speedily accomplished.