You select the four kings from a pack, and lay them side by side in a
row upon the table.
The lady who wishes to know her fortune gives to each of these cards
the name of some gentleman of her acquaintance who might be likely to
woo her in marriage. It is usual to pronounce these names aloud before
the company. The name given to the king of hearts is, however, an
exception. This secret the lady keeps to herself. To these four kings,
you can also add a queen, which then denotes the old maid.
Now, take the rest of the pack, shuffle it thoroughly, let the person
in question cut three times and commence. Under each of the
above-named picture-cards you lay a card in turn, and as often as a
spade is placed under a spade, a heart under a heart, _et cetera_,
that is, as often as a card of the same suit is placed under one of
these picture-cards, the picture-card is turned from its position.
The first time it takes a direction from left to right, the second
time it lies upside down, the third time it is raised again to a
position from right to left, and the fourth and last time it regains
its former upright position.
That one of the four kings who, after these different changes, first
resumes his upright position, is to be the happy husband. If it should
happen to be the old maid, you can imagine what is in store for you.