The pack of thirty-two selected cards, as in the foregoing method, is
taken, shuffled and cut; then the four aces are taken out, the
significator, or the person for whom the dealer is acting, and
anything he wants to know about--such as money, then the ten of
diamonds would be selected; if about a man, any king; if about a
woman, any queen; if about business, the ten of clubs. These are
shuffled after having been withdrawn, without cutting, and the nine of
spades, which is the disappointment card, is also added to the aces,
etc., in all seven cards, laying them face downwards on the table.
Then the remainder are taken, shuffled well, and turned up in threes
twice, the one following being the seventh. The pack is gone through
like this, and when the nine of hearts appears whatever number that
falls on in the twenty-five cards remaining. When one, two, three,
four, five, six or seven, it must fall on the card drawn out by the
seven cards abstracted thus; if it should fall on No. 1 and that
happens on an ace, it is favorable, and if he should chance on an ace,
or his wish, or anything but the disappointment card (nine of spades),
the wish will be realized.
First of all, the four aces are taken out, and the nine of spades,
(the disappointment card); then, supposing the dealer is acting for a
fair man, or a soldier, who is anxious to know whether he will get his
wish. We will imagine he has invested a sum of money, and he wishes to
know whether it is a good one; or that he hopes for a legacy and is
anxious to know if he will get it. The king of diamonds (representing
the fair man), and the ten of diamonds, the money card, should
therefore be taken out. These are added to the four aces and the nine
of spades. These are well shuffled, but not cut, and laid face
downwards on the table, like the following:--
+------------+ +------------+ +------------+
| _Ace_ | | _Ace_ | | _Fair man_ |
| _Clubs_ | | _Hearts_ | | _inquirer_ |
+------------+ +------------+ +------------+
+------------+ +------------+ +------------+
| _Ace_ | | _Nine_ | | _Ace_ |
| _Diam._ | | _Spades_ | | _Spades_ |
+------------+ +------------+ +------------+
+------------+
| _Ten_ |
| _Diam._ |
+------------+
These represent the four aces, the disappointment card and the
inquirer and his wish. The remaining cards are now taken and turned up
three at a time. We will suppose the first three are the nine, seven
and eight of clubs; the next three the ten and jack of hearts, and
eight of diamonds; and the seventh card, the queen of clubs--these are
passed by. Begin again, counting one. We will suppose the next three
are the eight of spades, the seven of clubs and the nine of hearts.
Three are then counted from those laid face downwards on the table,
and that card is turned up--we will suppose that to be the king of
diamonds; the cards turned up by threes are gathered together and
shuffled, and turned up by sevens as before. Should the nine of hearts
fall on the fourth card the second time, that is to be turned up--we
will suppose that to be the ace of diamonds. Proceed again as before,
and this time we will imagine the nine of hearts to fall on the
seventh--this may be the ten of diamonds--so that it could be said to
the persons consulting that it is said he will get his wish; but
supposing the nine of hearts to fall on the fifth card, and that turns
out to be the nine of spades, he will be disappointed; and should it
happen that _in the first reading_ the nine of hearts should come on,
we will say, the first card, which might prove the nine of spades,
then it is no use continuing the three times, as it is supposed there
is no chance whatever of the wish being realized.